Beijing downplayed reports on Wednesday about the visit by the president of Sao Tome and Principe, a "diplomatic ally" of Taiwan, saying people were reading too much into it.

According to media in Taiwan, the president of the African country recently visited Shanghai to attract investment. No official events were observed during the trip.

Taipei is nervous about the news, concerned that Sao Tome and Principe - an archipelago just north of the equator and about 250 km west of Gabon - will cut its "diplomatic" relations and turn to Beijing.

Taiwan authorities have publicly expressed great concern over the issue, but the Foreign Ministry said, "There is no need to read too much into it."

Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a regular news briefing that Sao Tome and Principe President Manuel Pinto da Costa "attended economic and trade activities in a private capacity, but I'm not aware of the specific itinerary".

Hua said she could not comment on whether Beijing is considering establishing diplomatic ties with the country.

Fan Liqing, spokeswoman for the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office, made similar remarks on Wednesday.

Zhang Hongming, deputy director of the Institute of West Asian and African Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said, "As far as I know, the president was indeed on a personal visit for economic affairs."

Zhang said Beijing is not seeking to expand its diplomatic advantage over Taipei, in sharp contrast to their fierce competition in the late 1980s and the 1990s. "We have practiced restraint," Zhang said.

Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou proposed a respite in the diplomatic battle after taking office in 2008 and has maintained good relations with Beijing.

Zhang said Beijing is making national interest the priority on the issue.

"Still, on whether to continue 'diplomatic' ties with Taipei, it is up to the African country to make its own decisions."

lixiaokun@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 06/12/2014 page3)