BEIJING—Chinese President Xi Jinping said Tuesday that any “tricks” to divide China will be thwarted, a warning that followed U.S. legislation opening the door to high-level visits with Taiwan.
China has denounced the Taiwan Travel Act, signed last week by President Donald Trump, which authorizes such visits between the U.S. and the self-ruled island claimed by Beijing as part of its territory.
“Any actions or tricks to separate the country are bound to fail,” said Mr. Xi during a speech at the end of China’s annual legislative session. “They will receive the condemnation of the people and the punishment of history.”
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In his speech, Mr. Xi reiterated the “One China” policy, which has long underpinned relations with Taiwan.
Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen declined to acknowledge that principle when she took office in 2016, breaking with more than a decade of precedent. Relations with Beijing have since grown icy.
Mr. Trump has been more willing than his predecessors to needle Beijing over Taiwan. After his election in 2016, he took a congratulatory call from Ms. Tsai, straying from decades of U.S. policy and infuriating Beijing.
The U.S. severed diplomatic relations with Taipei in 1979 to establish ties with Beijing. Since then, Washington’s preference has been to maintain the status quo, with Taiwan neither subsumed into the People’s Republic of China nor declared independent, which would risk war with Beijing.
The new legislation would elevate Taiwan’s profile in Washington, allowing senior officials from the two sides to make reciprocal visits. The U.S. previously restricted itself to sending lower-level officials to avoid antagonizing Beijing. Taiwan’s president would only visit the U.S. on stopovers, en route to other countries.
The Taiwan Travel Act doesn’t require high-level visits, so its significance depends on implementation. China’s Foreign Ministry urged the U.S. to “correct its mistakes” in a statement on Saturday, saying that the law sent “seriously wrong signals” to those in Taiwan seeking independence. The Chinese Defense Ministry warned against implementing the law or selling more arms to Taiwan, saying either action would be potentially destabilizing.
The signing of the Taiwan Travel Act comes as the Trump administration launches a broad offensive against China. The administration has accused Beijing of unfair trade policies and is preparing a slate of new tariffs against Chinese products. It has also been critical of Beijing’s North Korea policy.
Mr. Xi’s Taiwan comments played well with his audience on Tuesday, drawing loud cheers from legislators during a speech that otherwise focused on economic development and the role of the Communist Party.
“We cannot allow, and it is impossible for, an inch of our great country’s territory to separate from China,” said Mr. Xi.
Write to Eva Dou at eva.dou@wsj.com