Alain Richard, a former defence minister, arrived on Wednesday for a five-day visit despite repeated warnings from the Chinese embassy in Paris, reports AFP news agency.

In a speech after he was conferred a top medal of honour by President Tsai Ing-wen, Richard was quoted as saying by AFP that Taiwan's de facto embassy in Paris has been doing "a very good job in representing your country".

China claims Taiwan as a breakaway province.

Whereas, Taiwan considers itself a sovereign country.