The US Senate has passed a bill promoting closer ties with Taiwan. Beijing has warned the move could threaten stability across the Taiwan Strait.

HUA CHUNYING, SPOKESPERSON CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY "Although the bill is not legally binding, it has violated the one-China principle and the Three Joint Communiqués between the United States and China. China is strongly dissatisfied with and opposes the bill and has made solemn representations to the US. The one-China principle is the political basis for the Sino-U.S. Relations. We urge the US to honor the principle and abide by the Three Joint Communiques. The US should stop official exchanges with Taiwan or attempts to enhance any substantive relations with Taiwan. The US should carefully and properly handle the issue concerning Taiwan to avoid serious damage to the Sino-U.S. relations."

The Senate passed the Taiwan Travel Act unanimously. It was previously passed by the House of Representatives in January and now it needs President Trump to sign it into law. The bill says it should be US policy to allow officials at all levels to travel to Taiwan to meet their counterparts. It will also permit high-level officials from Taiwan to enter the US "under respectful conditions" and meet with US officials.