China: Taiwan claims over Fiji fight 'nonsense'

China branded allegations by Taiwan over a violent altercation in Fiji "sheer nsense" on Tuesday, after a fight broke out between Chinese diplomats and Taiwan government employees at a recent Taiwan National Day reception.

Taiwan is "just acting as guilty party blaming incent. It is sheer nsense," said Zhao Lijian, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, at a regular press briefing in Beijing.

China also criticised Australia for joining a multinational naval exercise in Pacific and India for starting trade talks with Taiwan.

Both China and Taiwan confirmed Oct. 8 incident in Fiji but each disputed or's claim of what precipitated fight, which resulted in one Taiwanese staffer being sent to a hospital with a head injury. One of Chinese diplomats also was injured.

When asked about Australia's return to Malabar Exercise, a joint naval simulation with India, Japan and United States, spokesperson said that  "China always believes that state-to-state military cooperation should be conducive to regional peace and stability."

Australia stopped attending exercise in 2007.

spokesperson also criticized India's anuncement that it would start trade negotiations with Taiwan.

"China firmly opposes countries having diplomatic ties with China conducting any forms of formal exchanges or signing official agreements with Taiwan," Zhao said.

spokesperson welcomed lift a temporary ban on Chinese social media app TikTok by Pakistan Monday. About 10 days earlier, video-sharing platform was blocked by Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, saying it took step after receiving complaints of "immoral and indecent" content on TikTok.

" Chinese government always maintains that Chinese companies operating overseas should strictly abide by local laws and regulations and fully respect local customs and religious beliefs," said Zhao.