China has strongly protested the U.S. over a bill that would provide military aid to Taiwan, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a briefing Thursday.

"The relevant bill seriously violates U.S. commitments to China on the Taiwan issue, violates the 'one China' principle and the provisions of the three joint Sino-U.S. communiqués, it interferes in China's internal affairs, violates international law and basic norms of international relations, and sends a serious false signal to separatist forces advocating Taiwanese independence," the diplomat said.

She noted that "China strongly opposes this and has already made a strong representation to the U.S."

The U.S. Senate Foreign Affairs Committee earlier approved a bill that would provide $4.5 billion over four years to Taiwan, up to $2 billion in loan guarantees for military purchases and make it a "major non-NATO ally of the United States." Once approved by the committee, the Taiwan policy bill moves on to the full upper chamber of Congress.