World Bulletin / News Desk

 China’s foreign minister insisted Saturday that a phone call between Taiwan’s leader and United States President-elect Donald Trump would not have an impact on the international community’s stance on the “one China” policy.

Wang Yi described the call from Tsai Ing-Wen as a "petty action" by Taiwan, which Beijing considers a breakaway province.

A statement released earlier by the Trump transition team said that during the conversation Friday, Trump and Tsai “noted the close economic, political, and security ties exists between Taiwan and the United States".

 Despite the statement, Beijing has lodged a protest with the United States over a call between US President-elect Donald Trump and Taiwanese leader Tsai Ing-wen, the foreign ministry said Saturday.

"We have already made solemn representations about it to the relevant US side. It must be pointed out that there is only one China in the world. Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory," the statement said.

"We urge the relevant parties in the US to abide by the commitment to the one-China policy" and "to handle Taiwan-related issues with caution and care to avoid unnecessarily interfering with the overall situation of Sino-US relations," it said.

"I believe the call will not change the one-China policy the U.S. has been observing over many years," Wang said Saturday at a symposium in Beijing.

The China Daily reported him as describing the policy as “the political basis of the healthy development” of relations between the countries.

On his Twitter account, Trump -- who will take the oath of office Jan. 20 -- said Tsai had called to congratulate him on his election victory.

"Interesting how the U.S. sells Taiwan billions of dollars of military equipment but I should not accept a congratulatory call," he said in a separate tweet.  

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