"The US Congress' approval of this draft bill is a serious violation of the fundamental principles of the international relations and the three joint communiques," that dictate Sino-American diplomatic relations, Jiang said.

"It is contrary to the reaffirmed commitment by the US government of the one China policy."

Jiang was responding to a vote by the US House of Representatives Wednesday to strike down a ban put in place in 1979 on high-level US government contacts with Taiwan.

If approved by the Senate, the measure could open the way for Taiwanese officials to visit the White House -- a move seen by China as a prelude to US' recognition of the island that it considers part of its territory.

The guidelines were issued 27 years ago by the US State Department to reinforce the "one China" policy adopted by the United States when Washington switched its formal diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing.

They specifically prohibit holding meetings with Taiwanese representatives at the White House or the State Department building, and bar high-level federal employees from attending formal Taiwanese receptions.

The amendment was tucked into a 60-billion-dollar spending bill funding the State Department by a bipartisan group of congressmen and passed by a voice vote.

China split with Taiwan at the end of a civil war in 1979. The Communist Party rulers have repeatedly warned they are prepared to take military action if the island formally declares independence.

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