China on Thursday urged the U.S. Congress not to send any wrong signals to "Taiwan independence" forces after the U.S. Senate passed a bill last Thursday calling on the State Department to submit a plan to help the Taiwan region regain its observer status at the World Health Organization (WHO).

China expresses strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to the U.S. Senate move and has lodged stern representations to the U.S. side, said Hua Chunying, a spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry.

The Taiwan region's participation in WHO activities must be handled in accordance with the One-China principle, Hua said.

"We urge the U.S. Congress to fully realize the high sensitivity of Taiwan-related issues," the spokesperson said, and "not to help Taiwan expand its so-called 'international space.'"