The Chinese ambassador to Zambia on Friday in Lusaka lashed out at Michael Sata, one of Zambia's presidential candidates for this month's general elections, over his statement that Taiwan and Hong Kong are "countries,"

Sata was quoted by the local Post newspaper as referring Taiwan and Hong Kong as "countries" like South Korea and Singapore, which Chinese Ambassador Li Baodong said was an "interference in China's sovereignty."

"Taiwan is a province of China and Hong Kong has been a special administrative region since its return in 1997 to the motherland from British colonial rule," Li said.

"These are well-known facts widely recognized by the international community. Sata's remarks were dangerous and have hurt the feelings of Chinese people," he added.

Li said China would reconsider its relations with Zambia if the opposition leader of Patriotic Front took power and consequently established "diplomatic relations" with Taiwan.

Earlier, Sata made a more blatant remark that Taiwan was a "sovereign state" shortly after his return from Malawi where local media said he had met with Taiwanese businessmen to solicit funds for his presidential campaign.

He said Zambia did not owe China anything and he would chase away Chinese investors once he was in power.

Sata's remarks drew a wave of criticism from all levels of the Zambian society which accused him of "mortgaging the country's future for his own benefit."

Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa made an apology on Thursday to the Chinese government over Sata's statement that caused fear among Chinese community in Zambia.

Mwanawasa said the remarks by Sata were unfortunate because China has helped Zambia since the country gained independence in 1964.

"Publicly I apologize. We value the friendship of the Chinese people and we will continue to cherish their assistance," the president said.

Source: Xinhua