Taiwan tells China to 'GET LOST' over note to Indian media

New Delhi : Taiwan responded strongly against China's request to Indian media to not call them as a different country and observe the "one-China" principle after newspapers carried advertisements for Taiwan's national day.

This comes months after a deadly clash between the two nations on the Himalayan borders, that resulted in anti-China sentiment in India.

China's hackles were raised on Wednesday by advertisements placed in leading Indian newspapers by Taiwan's government to mark the democratic, Chinese-claimed Island’s national day on Saturday.

China, which claims Taiwan and regards it as a wayward province, made its displeasure evident in an e-mail sent by its embassy on Wednesday night to journalists in India, including Reuters.

"Regarding the so-called forthcoming 'National Day of Taiwan', the Chinese Embassy in India would like to remind our media friends that there is only one China in the world, and the Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legitimate government representing the whole of China," the embassy said.

"We hope Indian media can stick to the Indian government's position on Taiwan question and do not violate the 'One China' principle.

"In particular, Taiwan shall not be referred to as a 'country (nation)' or 'Republic of China' or the leader of China's Taiwan region as 'President', so as not to send the wrong signals to the general public."

Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu scoffed at Beijing's advice to media.

"India is the largest democracy on Earth with a vibrant press & freedom-loving people. But it looks like communist #China is hoping to march into the subcontinent by imposing censorship. #Taiwan's Indian friends will have one reply: GET LOST!" he said in a tweet.