The United Kingdom extended a "special invitation" to Taiwan's representative in the country to sign Queen Elizabeth II's condolence book along with other nations in yet another slight to China on Sunday.
The U.K. does not have formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan due to the insistence of Beijing that the island is its sovereign territory. Nevertheless, Taiwan's de-facto ambassador to the U.K. was invited with other foreign dignitaries to sign the condolence book, according to a statement from Taiwan's foreign ministry.
Taiwan's representative in London, Kelly Hsieh, "enjoyed the same treatment as the heads of state, representatives and members of the royal family of other countries who have gone to Britain to mourn," the ministry wrote.
The move comes as China is growing increasingly aggressive toward Taiwan. The Chinese military held live-fire military exercises around the island in August in a simulation of an invasion.
