China has lodged 'stern representations' with the United States after President Barack Obama signed into law a US defence policy bill that suggests a plan to conduct high-level military exchanges with self-ruled Taiwan. Part of the $618.7 billion National Defense Authorization Act 'expresses the sense of Congress that (the US Department of Defense) should conduct a programme of senior military exchanges between the United States and Taiwan'. In a statement late Sunday, China's Foreign Ministry said it had lodged a protest with the United States over the Taiwan content of the act and expressed its strong opposition.
(photo credit: The Jerusalem Post)