BEIJING, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- China called on the United States to abide by the spirit and principles established by the three Sino-U.S. joint communiques and handle Taiwan issues in a prudent and appropriate manner.

Yang Yi, spokesman of the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, made the remarks Wednesday when asked to comment on Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou's Honduras tour with a scheduled stopover in the United States.

On Tuesday, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said at a regular press briefing that China opposed the United States havingany official exchanges and contacts with Taiwan and this position remained clear and consistent.