Copenhagen: Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) on Monday condemned what it described as an example of Beijing's "wolf warrior diplomacy" after the Chinese ambassador to Denmark demanded that his Taiwanese counterpart leave an event in the Nordic country earlier this year.

According to Focus Taiwan, MOFA issued the statement after Denmark's Berlingske newspaper reported that the Chinese Ambassador to Denmark, Wang Xuefeng, had asked the Japanese Embassy in Denmark to expel Taiwan's representative to Denmark, Robin Cheng, from a reception on February 26 marking the Japanese emperor's birthday.

The report indicated that Wang's request was ignored by the hosts, allowing Cheng to remain at the event. In response, Wang left the reception, an action that reportedly sparked concern in Danish diplomatic circles.

In a press release, MOFA criticized Wang's attempts to obstruct Taiwan's normal exchanges with other countries, labeling them as acts of "wolf warrior diplomacy." The statement further noted that Wang's conduct showed a lack of basic etiquette and warned that such "blatant, unscrupulous, despicable and disrespectful behavior" would attract criticism from the international community.

Cheng, speaking to a CNA correspondent in Stockholm, Sweden, recounted that Wang and his secretary immediately protested to the Japanese hosts upon noticing his presence at the reception. Cheng noted that after failing to persuade the Japanese hosts to remove him, Wang left the event angrily, pointing at Cheng in warning. Cheng characterized Wang's behavior as unusually hostile.

Cheng added that Taiwan did not publicize the incident to avoid causing difficulties for Japan, although the episode was hardly a secret as it was witnessed by many guests firsthand.