Foreign minister clarifies Taiwan status

"Taiwan independence" has never, and will never succeed, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Sunday, warning that anyone in the island who attempts to pursue "Taiwan independence" will be harshly punished by history and law.

Wang, who is visiting Egypt, made the remarks at a joint news conference with Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry in the country's capital, Cairo.

The elections in the Taiwan region are local affairs of China, said Wang.

The results of the elections will not change the fact there is only one China in the world, and that Taiwan is part of China, nor will it change the universal consensus in the international community to follow the one-China principle, he said.

Taiwan has never been, and will never be a country, Wang said, adding that if any member of the international community goes against the one-China principle, it will be interfering in China's internal affairs and violating China's sovereignty.