US envoy to UN plans to visit Taiwan: China slams Washington

"We stated China's principled position yesterday. China's position on the issue of U.S.-Taiwan exchanges is clear and consistent. The actions of the U.S. side seriously violate the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiqués. China firmly opposes it," China's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying told reporters.

"There is only one China in the world. Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory, and the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing China. This is a fact recognized by the international community," she said.

"The United States made a clear commitment on this in the Communiqué on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between China and the United States. China firmly opposes any form of official ties between the United States and the Taiwan region. This position is consistent and clear. We have noticed that for a period of time, a few anti-China politicians in the Trump administration, or Pompeo and his like if you will, have put on stage their 'final madness', unscrupulously using the remaining days in office to sabotage China-U.S. relations and serve their personal political gains," she said.

She said: "We also urge the U.S. side to return to reason and stop any words and deeds that undermine bilateral relations. China will take all necessary measures to resolutely safeguard its own sovereign and security interests. If the U.S. side insists on going its way, it will pay a heavy price for its wrong words and deeds."

US Ambassador to the United Nations Kelly Craft will visit Taiwan on January 13-15 and meet with senior diplomats, the US Mission to UN said on Thursday.

"Ambassador Kelly Craft will travel to Taipei January 13-15 for meetings with senior Taiwan counterparts and members of the diplomatic community," the mission said in a press release.

Craft will reinforce Washington's support for Taiwan’s international space, in accordance with "the U.S. one-China policy."

The envoy is expected to make a speech on Taiwan’s contribution to the international community at the Institute of Diplomacy and International Affairs during her trip.

The US, along with many other countries, does not recognize Taiwan as a sovereign nation and officially sticks to the "One China" policy. Nevertheless, Washington has kept informal relations with the island nation after severing diplomatic ties with it in 1979. China, which views Taiwan as its breakaway province, is uneasy over its cooperation with Washington, especially in the military field.