China has lodged protests to the United States asking the Joe Biden administration to cease engagements with the leader of Taiwan Lai Ching-te.
Beijing said the dealings were a threat to peace in the Taiwan Strait.
Foreign Affairs ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said this after Ching-te made stopovers in Hawaii and Guam, United States.
Beijing said such engagements violated the one-China principle.
"By arranging for the 'stopovers' of the leader of China’s Taiwan region Lai Ching-te in Hawaii and Guam, having official interactions with the Taiwan region, helping Taiwan expand so-called 'international space,' and providing platforms for 'Taiwan independence' separatist activities, the US gravely violated the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiqués," Lin Jian said.
He said the actions the US took undermine China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and "send a severely wrong signal to 'Taiwan independence' separatist forces."
"China deplores this and has lodged strong protests to the US side," Jian said.
"We urge the US to fully see the separatist nature of Lai Ching-te and the DPP authorities, fully understand the grave damage that 'Taiwan independence' separatist activities do to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait," the diplomat said.
For Beijing, Washington should "fully abide by the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiqués, stop meddling in affairs related to Taiwan,".
China holds that the Taiwan issue is China’s internal affairs.
"The US must stop aiding and abetting 'Taiwan independence' separatist forces," he told journalists in a brief.
China holds that any attempts to use the Taiwan question will fail.
"Attempts to solicit US support for 'Taiwan independence' or use the Taiwan question to contain China will lead nowhere," the official stated.
China says "No one should underestimate the firm resolve, will and ability of the Chinese government and people to safeguard sovereignty and territorial integrity."
The Taiwan question has sparked tensions between the US and China, triggering a freeze on trade exchanges.
During his trip, Lai Ching-te said "Taiwanese people have the right to engage with the rest of the world."
Taipei fears that Beijing might launch military drills in response to Lai’s trip to the United States.
China calls Taiwan its “breakaway province” while Taipei has insisted on independence since 1949.
