China reminds U.S. on Taiwan

BEIJING, June 3 (UPI) -- China urged the United States not to create a "two Chinas" situation during Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou's U.S. visit en route to Central America.

Ma was scheduled to stop over in Los Angeles and Seattle during his tour of Belize, Guatemala and El Salvador. No public activities had been planned for Ma in the two U.S. cities.

"We noticed relevant reports, and hope the U.S. side handles the Taiwan issue carefully and properly so as to avoid creating a scenario of 'two Chinas' or 'one China and one Taiwan'," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said Tuesday, Xinhua reported.

Ma, who assumed office a year ago, was scheduled to return to Taipei Thursday.