China protests against US defense act

China has lodged "solemn representations" with the United States in response to the signing of its defense act which includes senior military exchanges between the US and Taiwan.

Foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said on Monday that China "will by no means accept" the new legislation.

"We are resolutely against the Taiwan-related section in the US National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017, and have lodged solemn representations with the US," she said.

Part of the $618.7 billion National Defense Authorization Act suggests the US Department of Defense should conduct a program of senior military exchanges between the United States and Taiwan.

Hua said the Taiwan question has a bearing on China's sovereignty and territory integrity.

"Although the Taiwan-related content in the US Act has no legal binding force, it still severely violates the three joint communiqués and interferes in China's domestic affairs," she said.

"We urge the US side to honor its commitment on the Taiwan question, put an end to military exchanges with and weapons sales to Taiwan and avoid undermining China-US relations or cross-Straits peace and stability," she added.