China says it firmly opposes any military relations between the United States and Taiwan and will respond to the covert visit of a US Navy admiral to Taipei.     

At a news briefing in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Minister Zhao Lijiang urged the United States to recognise the extreme sensitivity of Taiwan issue.                    

The Trump administration ramped up ties with Taiwan, including new arms sales raising concerns for China, which views the island as one of its provinces with no right to state-to-state ties.