A delegation of five US senators and a congressman arrived in Taiwan on Thursday for a two-day visit that was quickly denounced by China, which claims the island as its territory.
The politicians, led by Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, were due to meet the island's president, Tsai Ing-wen, and the defence minister.
Taiwan's Foreign Ministry said the visit highlighted America's "rock solid" support to Taiwan amid a “severe” situation in Ukraine.
In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian denounced the visit, saying “China is firmly opposed to any form of official exchanges between the US and Taiwan".
China has held military exercises near the island in recent months.
Chinese President Xi Jinping said last year that he wanted a peaceful "reunification" with Taiwan.
Washington is Taiwan's most important international backer and arms supplier, a frequent source of friction in Sino-US relations.
“Relevant US lawmakers should abide by the one-China policy upheld by the US government," Mr Zhao said.
"The US should … stop official contacts with Taiwan, and avoid going further down the dangerous path.
“We will continue to take strong measures to resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity."
Mr Graham was joined by Senator Robert Menendez, chairman of the influential Senate foreign relations committee, Senator Richard Burr, Senator Robert Portman, Senator Benjamin Sasse and Congressman Ronny Jackson.
The visit follows an announcement last week that US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi would visit Taiwan.
But Ms Pelosi’s trip was postponed after she tested positive for Covid-19.
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Director: Edgar Wright
Starring: Ansel Elgort, Kevin Spacey, Jamie Foxx, Lily James
Three and a half stars
Ads on social media can 'normalise' drugs
A UK report on youth social media habits commissioned by advocacy group Volteface found a quarter of young people were exposed to illegal drug dealers on social media.
The poll of 2,006 people aged 16-24 assessed their exposure to drug dealers online in a nationally representative survey.
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Roll of honour: Who won what in 2018/19?
West Asia Premiership: Winners – Bahrain; Runners-up – Dubai Exiles
UAE Premiership: Winners – Abu Dhabi Harlequins; Runners-up – Jebel Ali Dragons
Dubai Rugby Sevens: Winners – Dubai Hurricanes; Runners-up – Abu Dhabi Harlequins
UAE Conference: Winners – Dubai Tigers; Runners-up – Al Ain Amblers
BULKWHIZ PROFILE
Date started: February 2017
Founders: Amira Rashad (CEO), Yusuf Saber (CTO), Mahmoud Sayedahmed (adviser), Reda Bouraoui (adviser)
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: E-commerce
Size: 50 employees
Funding: approximately $6m
Investors: Beco Capital, Enabling Future and Wain in the UAE; China's MSA Capital; 500 Startups; Faith Capital and Savour Ventures in Kuwait
Retail gloom
Online grocer Ocado revealed retail sales fell 5.7 per cen in its first quarter as customers switched back to pre-pandemic shopping patterns.
It was a tough comparison from a year earlier, when the UK was in lockdown, but on a two-year basis its retail division, a joint venture with Marks&Spencer, rose 31.7 per cent over the quarter.
The group added that a 15 per cent drop in customer basket size offset an 11.6. per cent rise in the number of customer transactions.
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Which honey takes your fancy?
Al Ghaf Honey
The Al Ghaf tree is a local desert tree which bears the harsh summers with drought and high temperatures. From the rich flowers, bees that pollinate this tree can produce delicious red colour honey in June and July each year
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