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China on Tuesday expressed firm opposition to any form of official contact between the Taiwan region and Somaliland after the region opened a representative office in the East African territory on Monday.

There is only one China in the world and the Taiwan region is an inalienable part of China's territory, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian told a daily press briefing.

The one-China principle is a globally acknowledged norm of international relations and has widespread agreement within the international community, Zhao said.

Any attempts by Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) to split China is doomed to failure, Zhao stressed.