China 'concerned' over Taiwanese Singapore visit

. China has expressed serious concern at the announcement that the Taiwanese vice-president, Lien Chan, is to visit Singapore later this week for a four-day visit.

A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman, said Beijing hoped the Singapore government would resolve the problem and avoid damaging bilateral relations, but did not call for the trip to be cancelled.

Taiwan said Mr Lien's planned visit on Thursday was unofficial.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service