BEIJING, March 1 (Xinhua) -- China has lodged solemn representations with the United States over a Taiwan-related bill, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Thursday.

The U.S. Senate on Wednesday passed the Taiwan Travel Act, which aims to encourage high-level visit exchange between the United States and Taiwan. The U.S. 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-U.S. joint communiques.

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

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

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