China criticises Taiwan over Falungong

China has launched a bitter attack against the Vice-President of Taiwan, Annette Lu, saying she's using the Falungong spiritual movement to promote independence for the island.

The criticism came in a commentary carried by the official Xinhua news agency.

The commentary alleged that some members of the Taiwanese administration were using Falungong for what it described as their own separatist purposes.

Miss Lu has in the past been criticised by the authorities in Beijing as being separatist and anti-China.

Falungong is outlawed in China but is legal in Taiwan where religious freedom is enshrined in law.

While Beijing has detained dozens of Falungong followers for re-education, Taipei says the movement poses no threat. Falungong says it's membership has grown rapidly on the island since China banned it on the mainland.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service