Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin told reporters that China strongly condemns the US action and has lodged a stern complaint. He said, “We urge the US to fully recognize the highly sensitive nature of the Taiwan question, strictly observe the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiqués, immediately stop official exchanges with Taiwan, make no attempts to change the nature of its relationship with Taiwan, and properly handle Taiwan-related matters. China will make the necessary reaction in light of the development of the situation.” 

The statement came immediately after the US Department of State announced that US Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment, Keith Krach will visit Taiwan on Thursday. Krach will be the second highest ranking US official to visit Taiwan in the last two months. Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar made an historic visit to Taiwan in July, the first since Washington cut diplomatic ties with Taipei in 1979.