China protests to US after Trump speaks to Taiwan leader

Beijing : China protested to Washington Saturday after US President-elect Donald Trump broke with decades of foreign policy and spoke with the president of Taiwan.

It was not immediately clear whether Trump's telephone call with Tsai Ing-wen marked a deliberate pivot away from Washington's official "One China" stance, but it fuelled fears he is improvising on international affairs.

China regards self-ruling Taiwan as part of its own territory awaiting reunification under Beijing's rule, and any US move that would imply support for independence would likely trigger fury.

During Friday's discussion, Trump and Tsai noted "the close economic, political and security ties" between Taiwan and the United States, according to the president-elect's office.

"President-elect Trump also congratulated President Tsai on becoming President of Taiwan earlier this year," it said.

Beijing on Saturday offered a robust response.

"We have already made solemn representations about it to the relevant US side," the Chinese foreign ministry said.

"It must be pointed out that there is only one China in the world. Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory," 

China also urged "relevant parties in the US... to handle Taiwan-related issues with caution and care to avoid unnecessarily interfering with the overall situation of Sino-US relations."

Trump, who had come under fire for the telephone call, hit back -- on Twitter.

"Interesting how the U.S. sells Taiwan billions of dollars of military equipment but I should not accept a congratulatory call," Trump tweeted.