China's foreign ministry on Friday urged the United States to abide by its "one China" principle, after Washington sent two warships through the Taiwan Strait on Thursday, the first such operation this year.

The United States naval manoeuvre risked further heightening tensions with China, which considers Taiwan its own and has not ruled out using force to bring the self-ruled island under its control.

Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying made the remarks at a regular briefing, adding that China closely followed the United States warships' passage through the Strait.