Wang Yi elaborated on China's principled position on the Taiwan question and urged the U.S. side to handle it prudently. Wang emphasised that Taiwan has been part of China's territory since ancient times, and we will never allow Taiwan to be split from China."

New Secretary of State Marco Rubio told China's foreign minister on Friday that the U.S. would put the American people first and promote U.S. interests in its relationship with Beijing.

Former U.S. senator from Florida Marco Rubio jumps into new role as secretary of state with flurry of phone calls, planned trip to Panama.

Rubio's appointment as secretary of state has been seen as sign that Trump plans to maintain a hard line on China.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed concern about Beijing’s coercive behavior against Taiwan and aggression in the South China Sea in his first formal call with Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday,

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke with new U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday and Beijing said he told the known China hawk that the direction and tone of U.S.-China ties had been set by their leaders and he hoped Rubio would play a constructive role for the good of the people of both countries.

Tensions between the U.S. and China have been rising for some time now, and Rubio's appointment has widely been seen as a sign that Trump plans to maintain a hard line on China during his second term. One of the most outspoken China hawks in Washington, Rubio has introduced several bills targeting the Chinese Communist Party.

The new Secretary of State already has said the Hong Kong-based operator of Panama Canal-adjacent ports could be a “big national security and defense problem.”

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi by phone on Friday, China's foreign ministry said, the first call between the two top diplomats since President Donald Trump's administration took office on Monday.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi used a phrase typical of a Chinese teacher or boss warning a student or employee to behave and be responsible for their actions.

In his first phone call with China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly stated that the U.S. "does not support" Taiwan independence. Chinese state media reported that Rubio told Wang he hopes Taiwan and China will find a peaceful solution acceptable to both sides.