US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a telephone conversation with China’s top diplomat Wang I, in which he expressed “grave concern” about Beijing’s actions in the South China Sea, the State Department press service reported .

Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said that during his call with Wang, Rubio emphasized that the administration of 47th US President Donald Trump will seek to develop a relationship with Beijing that “advances the interests of the United States and prioritizes the well-being of the American people.”

“The secretary also underscored the United States’ commitment to our allies in the region and grave concerns about China’s coercive actions against Taiwan and the South China Sea,” she said.

According to Bloomberg , Wang, in turn, stressed that Beijing will never allow Taiwan to be “separated” from mainland China, and called on the United States to “tread carefully” in addressing related issues.