BEIJING - China has lodged solemn representations with the United States over a Taiwan-related bill, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Thursday.

The US Senate on Wednesday passed the Taiwan Travel Act, which aims to encourage high-level visit exchange between the United States and Taiwan. The US House of Representatives also passed the bill in January.

Spokesperson Hua Chunying told a routine news briefing that although some of the act's clauses are not legally binding, it seriously violates the one-China principle and the three Sino-US joint communiques.

"China is strongly dissatisfied and firmly against the act and has lodged solemn representations with the US side," said Hua.

She said the one-China principle is the political foundation of China-US ties.

"We urge the United States to adhere to its commitment to the one-China policy and the three Sino-US joint communiques, stop official contacts with Taiwan, and prudently and properly handle Taiwan-related issues in order to avoid damage to China-US ties," Hua said.