The official Chinese news agency, Xinhua, has accused a minister in the Indian government of threatening the improvement in Sino-Indian relations by urging proper consideration of international recognition for Taiwan.

A commentary carried by the agency described the Indian Urban Development Minister, Ram Jethmalani, as evil-minded for suggesting, in a magazine interview, that there was a strong case for recognising Taiwan as an independent and democratic country.

Xinhua said the minister should know that there is only one China and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of it.

It described his comments as a grave development aimed at splitting China.