China has lodged "stern representations" against a plan by Washington to conduct high-level military exchanges with Taiwan. In a statement late Sunday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said it had lodged a protest with the United States over the Taiwan content of a new military funding law.

The statement says Taiwan is Chinese territory. It notes that the part of the defense policy bill referring to Taiwan is not legally binding, but says it interferes with internal affairs, which China finds unacceptable.