China has issued an angry statement over Stephen Harper’s recent visit to Taipei, the capital of Taiwan. His visit makes him the first former Prime Minister to step foot in the province/country and he publicly praised Taiwan’s democratic process, while giving a thinly veiled critique of Communist China.

“China expresses strong dissatisfaction with the relevant Canadian person’s visit to Taiwan and has lodged serious representations to the Canadian side,” China’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement to the Globe and Mail.

“We urge Canada to fully recognize the sensitivity and complexity of the Taiwan issue, to earnestly abide by the one-China principle and properly handle Taiwan-related issues,” the Foreign Ministry said.

China has long been concerned over the state of Taiwan, an autonomous, democratic nation within a nation which China has de facto claimed as its own province.

It has never ruled out the possibility of using force to subjugate the nation if Taiwan ever becomes too independent or separatist.

Amidst the Hong Kong freedom movement, these concerns have grown as has criticism and hostility over anyone who would promote such autonomy.