China's defense ministry firmly opposes U.S. official congratulating Taiwan leader's inauguration

China's Ministry of National Defense on Wednesday expressed strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's statement congratulating Taiwan leader Tsai Ing-wen on her inauguration.

Taiwan is an inalienable part of China, said the ministry in a statement, noting that the U.S. move has severely violated the one-China principle and the stipulations of the three China-U.S. joint communiques, gravely interfered in China's internal affairs, gravely jeopardized the development of relations between the two countries and their militaries, and gravely undermined peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

"It is extremely wrong and very dangerous," said the statement.