China lodges representations to U.S. over Trump's call with Taiwan leader

BEIJING, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- China has lodged solemn representations with the United States, urging the latter to honor its commitment to the one-China policy, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said on Saturday.

Geng's remarks came after U.S. president-elect Donald Trump spoke over phone on Friday with Taiwan leader Tsai Ing-wen.

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

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

"We urge relevant U.S. side to honor the commitment to the one-China policy as well as the three Sino-U.S. joint communiques, and cautiously and properly handle Taiwan-related issues to avoid any unnecessary disturbance to the bigger picture of the Sino-U.S. 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 international community.

"I don't think it will change the one-China policy of the U.S. government either," Wang said on the sidelines of a foreign policy seminar on Saturday.

The one-China principle is a cornerstone for healthy development of Sino-U.S. 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 for its long-standing support of the one-China policy and the three China-U.S. 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 local media. "Our fundamental interest is in peaceful and stable cross-strait relations."