China urges US to suspend trade talks with Taiwan

Chinese Commerce Ministry Spokesperson Shu Jueteng has said that trade negotiations between the US and Taiwan would negatively affect US-China relations.

"This will affect China-US bilateral relations, as well as the trade and economic ties between China and the United States," she said at a briefing on the implications of the US-Taiwan agreement on August 18, Kommersant reports.

Earlier on August 18, Washington and Taiwan began formal talks on a trade initiative. The first round should take place in early autumn.

The Chinese official said that in this regard, China will "take all necessary retaliatory measures" to "protect the sovereignty and national security."

Since early August, Chinese officials have repeatedly opposed rapprochement with the US and Taiwan. Following a visit to Taiwan by Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi, mainland China imposed sanctions against Taiwan and launched military drills around the island.