China lodges representations with US over Trump-Tsai call

China has lodged solemn representations with the US, urging the latter to honour its commitment to the one-China policy, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said on Saturday.

Geng's remarks came after US President-elect Donald Trump on Friday spoke over phone with Taiwan leader Tsai Ing-wen, Xinhua news agency reported.

"It must be stated that there is only one China and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory, and Chinese government is the sole legitimate government that represents China. Those are all facts recognised by the international community," Geng said.

The one-China principle is the political foundation for China-US relations, Geng said.

"We urge relevant US side to honour the commitment to the one-China policy as well as the three Sino-US joint communiques, and cautiously and properly handle Taiwan-related issues to avoid any unnecessary disturbance to the bigger picture of the Sino-US relations," the spokesperson said.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi has called Tsai's call with Trump "a little trick" by Taiwan which would not change the one-China consensus in the international community.

"I don't think it will change the one-China policy of the US government either," Wang said on Saturday.

The one-China principle is a cornerstone for healthy development of Sino-US relations, and China does not want this political foundation to be interfered with or damaged, Wang added.

The White House on Friday, after Trump received a telephone call from Tsai Ing-wen, reaffirmed backing its long-standing support of the one-China policy and the three China-US joint communiques.

"We remain firmly committed to our one-China policy based on the three joint communiques," White House National Security Council spokesperson Ned Price told the media.

--IANS

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