China protests US defense bill for including Taiwan clause

China has urged the US to end military exchanges with and weapons sales to Taiwan.

Beijing: China has lodged a protest with the United States for signing a defense act that included a call for senior military exchanges between Washington and Taiwan.

"We are resolutely against the Taiwan-related section in the US National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017, and have lodged solemn representations with the US," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a news briefing on Monday.

According to media reports, part of the USD 618.7 billion National Defense Authorization Act directs the US Department of Defense to conduct a program of senior military exchanges between the US and Taiwan.

Noting that the Taiwan question has a bearing on China`s sovereignty and territorial integrity, Hua said that "China will by no means accept" the stipulation of the US defense act, reports the China Daily.

"Although the Taiwan-related content in the US act has no legal binding force, it severely violates the three joint communiques and interferes with China`s domestic affairs," she said, adding that China urges the US to end military exchanges with and weapons sales to Taiwan.

Earlier, China also expressed its anger over US President-elect, Donald Trump and Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen saying it violates the `One-China` principle.