CHINA has slammed plans by the United States to sign a trade treaty with Taiwan and called on Washington to stop official contact with the breakaway island province.

The agreement, which is set to be signed later today, comes as China and Singapore lay the groundwork for a hotline between the two countries that would establish a high-level communications link between Beijing and a close US partner in Asia.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry accused Washington of violating agreements on the status of Taiwan, which has ruled itself since the communist revolution on the mainland in 1949.

The United States has no official relations with Taiwan but has extensive informal ties and multibillion-dollar annual trade.

“The United States should stop any form of official exchanges with Taiwan, refrain from negotiating agreements with Taiwan that have sovereign connotations or official nature and refrain from sending wrong signals to the ‘Taiwan independence’ secessionist forces,” said ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning.

US and Taiwanese officials say the US-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade will increase trade by simplifying customs, investment and other rules.

Meanwhile, China and Singapore, a close military and economic partner of the US, have agreed to establish a direct phone link as communications between Washington and Beijing continue to be  strained.

Chinese Defence Minister Li Shangfu signed a memorandum of understanding with his Singaporean counterpart Ng Eng Hen to work toward establishing “ high-level communications between our defence leaders,” according to a statement released by Singapore.

“Such high-level open lines of communications are important for strengthening mutual understanding and trust,” the statement said.

Singapore said both countries’ defence establishments “interact regularly through bilateral and multilateral exercises” and that his visit underscores “longstanding, warm and friendly” relations.

Mr Li also established a defence hotline with Japan in March to improve communication and help avoid accidental encounters in the tense region.

While in Singapore, Mr Li was expected to address a meeting of defence officials, diplomats and country leaders on Sunday, but declined a request from Washington to meet on the sidelines with US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin.

Earlier this week, Chinese Defence Ministry spokesman Tan Kefei said Austin’s offer of talks in Singapore had been rejected because the US “disregards China's concerns and creates artificial obstacles.

“The US side should take practical actions to show sincerity and correct mistakes, so as to create the necessary conditions and proper atmosphere for communication and exchange between the two sides.”