China wants the Holy See to sever ties with Taiwan before it resumes talks about religious freedom.
The Vatican is reluctantly ready to cut ties with Taiwan and recognise China if Beijing can guarantee religious freedom, the head of the Hong Kong Roman Catholic diocese said yesterday.
China and the Vatican have shown signs of rapprochement in the past only to hit new lows, and Beijing, concerned about challenges to Communist Party rule, is unlikely to end its control over religious groups.