China angered with US-Taiwan travel bill, adding to tensions

China expressed anger on Thursday after the US Senate passed a bill promoting closer US ties with Taiwan, but the step drew praise from the self-ruled island which pledged to deepen cooperation.

The move adds to tensions between China and the United States, already at loggerheads over trade, with President Xi Jinping's close economic advisor Liu He in Washington this week to try and avert a trade war. 

Several top US steel and aluminium executives have been invited to the White House later on Thursday for what could be a major trade announcement, according to two people familiar with the



meeting. 

US President Donald Trump has vowed to take steps to crack down on imports of steel and aluminium and has been considering imposing hefty tariffs on imports of the metals from China and other countries. 

Beijing considers democratic Taiwan to be a wayward province and integral part of "one China", ineligible for state-to-state relations, and has never renounced the use of force to bring the island under its control. 

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said though the bill was not legally binding and seriously violates the "one China" principle.