US urged not to shirk responsibility for escalating cross-Straits tension

China urged the United States to halt official interactions with Taiwan in any form, in response to the visit to Taiwan by the governor of the US state of Arizona, the latest in a succession of US officials who have visited the island.

"China firmly opposes official US exchanges with the Taiwan region in any form and under any name," Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said at a regular news briefing on Wednesday.

According to media reports, Arizona Governor Doug Ducey, a Republican, arrived in Taiwan on Tuesday and was to meet with Taiwan leader Tsai Ing-wen and representatives of the island's semiconductor companies during a three-day tour.