Trump clear on China's stance on call with Taiwan's Tsai: ministry

[BEIJING] China said on Monday US President-elect Donald Trump and his transition team are clear on China's position regarding his telephone call with Taiwan President Tsai Ing Wen on Friday.

"The world is very clear on China's solemn position. The US side, including president elect Mr Trump's team, is very clear China's solemn position on this issue," said foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang at a regular press briefing in Beijing.

Taiwan is the most sensitive issue between China and the United States, he said.

He did not elaborate on how China had made its position clear to Mr Trump and his team, and declined to speculate about what was behind the call between Mr Trump and Taiwan President Tsai Ing Wen.

The unusual call prompted China to lodge "stern representations" with the "relevant US side" on Saturday.

US Vice-President elect Mike Pence played down the significance of the call with Ms Tsai, saying it was a "courtesy" call, not intended to show a shift in US policy on China.

China's state press on Monday also sought to minimise the telephone call's importance, saying it merely reflected Mr Trump's foreign affairs inexperience, not a shift in US policy towards Taiwan, which China sees as a breakaway province.

REUTERS