China urges US to stop official exchanges with Taiwan

BEIJING - China urged the United States to immediately stop official exchanges with Taiwan, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Friday.

Spokesperson Zhao Lijian made the remarks at a press briefing in response to reports that the US Environmental Protection Agency chief Andrew Wheeler would visit Taiwan in December.

"China firmly opposes any forms of official ties between the United States and Taiwan. Our position is consistent and clear. We urge the United States to fully recognize the highly sensitive nature of the Taiwan question, strictly observe the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiques," Zhao said.

"We call on the US to immediately stop official exchanges with Taiwan and properly handle Taiwan-related matters," Zhao said.

China will take legitimate and necessary actions in accordance with the development of the situation, he added.