China condemns Taiwan Olympic torch relay refusal

China on Friday condemned Taiwan's refusal to participate in the torch relay for next year's Beijing Summer Olympics, calling that a "vile precedent" that violated the Olympic Charter.

Earlier in the day, Taiwanese and international Olympic officials announced negotiations on bringing the torch to the self-governing island were at a dead end, bringing the curtain down on five months of talks between Beijing and Taipei. Taiwan had objected to the Beijing Organizing Committee's proposal to place the island next to the Chinese territory of Hong Kong on the prestigious relay route, saying that made Taiwan appear to be part of Chinese territory. (AP)