China has warned the US to stop "hyping up" and "manipulating" the crisis with Taiwan, during high-level military talks.
A military summit in Washington failed to resolve any differences between the two with China demanding that the US stop supplying weapons to Taiwan and withdraw forces from the South China Sea.
The meeting comes days before a Taiwanese presidential election where voters will choose between candidates divided on engaging with China or aligning with the US.
In a statement, the Chinese defence ministry said: "China will not make any concession or compromise on the Taiwan question and demanded that the US side abide by the One China principle … stop arming Taiwan, and not support Taiwan independence.
China has warned the US to stop 'hyping up' and 'manipulating' the crisis with Taiwan, during high-level military talksGettyBeijing’s delegation added that the US should "reduce [its] military presence" in the South China Sea and "stop manipulating and hyping up relevant issues."
Many foreign governments officially recognise the Beijing government’s claim that it is the only legitimate authority in "greater China."
However, the US and other allies offer unofficial support for Taiwan - a self-governing island which has its own democratic government.
President Xi of China has previously warned that he reserves the right to take the island by force.
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On Tuesday, Taiwan’s de facto ambassador to Washington, Alexander Yui, met the Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Mike Johnson.
Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman, Mao Ning, said that US politicians must "stop sending wrong signals to Taiwan independence separatist forces and must not intervene in the Taiwan region’s elections in any form."
In 2022, China fired missiles over Taiwan and scrapped military talks with the US after Johnson’s predecessor, Nancy Pelosi, visited the island.
Following a meeting between Xi and President Biden in November, talks resumed this week.
President of the People's Republic of China Xi JinpingReutersTaiwan has accused China of using social media to meddle in its presidential election.
According to the latest opinion polls, William Lai, the vice president running for the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, has a marginal advantage.
Running a close second is Hou Yu-ih of the Kuomintang party.
