BEIJING - China urged the Philippines to stop playing with fire on issues concerning China's core interests, and stop sending any wrong signals to "Taiwan independence" separatist forces, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said Friday.

A spokesperson for the ministry made the remarks when asked to comment on the Philippines allowing the visit by head of the foreign affairs department of the Taiwan authorities.

It was reported that the head of the foreign affairs department of the Taiwan region recently visited the Philippines as a so-called head of a foundation, and he met with certain Philippine officials and attended economic and trade activities.

The spokesperson said that the Philippines, by letting Lin Chia-lung visit the country as a so-called head of a foundation, has provided a platform for "Taiwan independence" separatists to engage in anti-China activities, and has severely violated the basic norms in international relations and the Philippines' own commitment on Taiwan-related issues.

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Over the past weeks and months, the Philippines has taken a series of wrong and provocative moves on Taiwan-related issues, and kept fudging and hollowing out the one-China principle and hurting China-Philippines ties. This once again reflects the serious lack of credibility of the Philippine government, the spokesperson said, adding that China firmly opposes this and has lodged serious protests with the Philippines both in Beijing and Manila.

"Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory. The Taiwan question is China's internal affair," the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson urged the Philippines to abide by the one-China principle and the joint communique on establishing diplomatic ties, stop pursuing the wrong course and return to the right track at once, stop playing with fire on issues concerning China's core interests, and stop sending any wrong signals to "Taiwan independence" separatist forces.

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"The Philippines must not underestimate the firm resolve of the Chinese people to safeguard our sovereignty and territorial integrity. There is a price to pay for trampling on China's red line, and all consequences arising therefrom will be borne by the Philippines," the spokesperson said.