China has protested a vote by the U.S. House of Representatives that would lift some restrictions on relations between U.S. and Taiwanese officials. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman called the action a serious violation of the fundamental principles of international relations between the U.S. and China. The measure approved by the House late Wednesday lifts prohibitions on meetings with Taiwan representatives at the White House or State Department offices, among other locations. The Senate must still consider the measure before the president can sign it into law.
The U.S. State Department imposed the restrictions in 1979 to reinforce the U.S. \"one China\" policy which recognizes mainland China over Taiwan.