China said it had complained to the United States over the congratulatory message sent by Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, to Taiwan's newly inaugurated president, Lai Ching-te.

In his congratulatory message, Blinken said he looked forward to Washington and Taipei maintaining "peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait".

Reacting to his message on Tuesday, China said his message "seriously violates the One China principle, and sends a wrong signal to separatist forces".

China's Foreign ministry spokesperson, Wang Wenbin said at a regular press conference that Beijing has not ruled out the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control.

Washington switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979 but has remained Taiwan's most important partner and biggest arms supplier.

Blinken's statement came as China said it would sanction three US Defence companies over their sales of arms to Taiwan.