The Danish media Berlingske, in disregard of objections of the Chinese Embassy in Denmark, hyped up deceptive and misleading stories on the Taiwan question to smear China. The Embassy expresses strong discontent and firm opposition to such reporting.

The Embassy has reiterated many times China's position on the Taiwan question which is consistent and clear. There is but one China in the world. Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory. The government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China. The one-China principle is a prevailing international consensus, a basic norm governing international relations and also the political foundation and premise for China to develop diplomatic relations with any country in the world. We firmly oppose any form of official engagement between countries that have diplomatic relations with China and the Taiwan authorities, and we firmly reject any external interference, the few separatists seeking “Taiwan independence” and their separatist activities.

We have also noticed that Berlingske claimed in its report that "rhetorical attacks against free media are a well-known part of the Chinese government's toolbox", which is fallacious. If Berlingske is this "professional media" championing "freedom of expression" as it often claims, why is it unwilling to publish the Embassy‘s letter in full, choosing instead to cook up sensational fallacies, distort right and wrong, and dismiss fact-based, reasonable criticism by the Embassy as “rhetorical attacks”? Does "free media" mean that media is free to launch vicious attacks and smear campaigns designed to manipulate public opinion? If Berlingske truly believes in "freedom of expression", it must also recognize and accept criticism as part of that very “freedom”, rather than sensationalizing reasonable criticism as "attacks against the media", or inflating criticism of one researcher’s article into a whole-sale attack against the entire research institution.

We urge Berlingske to uphold the fundamental standards of journalism, adopt an objective, rational and responsible attitude, abide by professional ethics, and stop making unfounded attacks and smears against China.