Tweet
China says it is "seriously concerned" after US President-elect Donald Trump expressed doubts about continuing to abide by the "One China" policy.
Under the policy, the US has formal ties with China rather than the island of Taiwan, which China sees as a breakaway province.
In a TV interview on Sunday, Mr Trump said he saw no reason why this should continue without key concessions.
China urged Mr Trump to understand the sensitivity of the Taiwan issue.
Foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told reporters that the "One China" policy was the basis for relations with Washington.
China's hawkish Global Times tabloid dubbed Mr Trump "ignorant as a child".
What did Mr Trump say exactly?
Image copyright AFP "I fully understand the 'One China' policy, but I don't understand why we have to be bound by the 'One China' policy unless we make a deal with China, having to do with other things, including trade."
The US was being hurt by Chinese currency devaluation, tariffs, the building of a "massive fortress" in the South China Sea, and a failure to help over North Korea's nuclear ambitions, he told Fox News.
The comments come hot on the heels of Mr Trump taking a call from the Taiwanese president, who congratulated him on his election victory. It earned a rebuke from Beijing.
In Sunday's interview, Mr Trump remained defiant.
"It was a call, very short call, saying 'congratulations, sir, on the victory'... and why should some other nation be able to say I can't take a call?"
Taiwan: A pawn in Trump's chess game
The Trump phone call that will stun Beijing
Trump rejects CIA Russia hacking report
'One China' policy in brief
Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Nixon in China - US policy shifts Rewind to 1949 and the Communist takeover in China. Kuomintang nationalists fled to Taiwan and set up their own government.
Since then, China has seen it as a renegade province, sometimes going so far as to threaten the use force if it ever declares independence.
After decades of formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, the US decided in 1979 it was in its best interests to recognise the Communist government in Beijing as the sole legal government of China.
This was the result of years of warming ties between Washington and Beijing, starting with President Richard Nixon's celebrated visit in 1972.
Formal ties with Taiwan were cut, but strong informal links remain, including substantial military support.
So the "One China" policy is Washington recognising that there is only one China, and Taiwan is part of it. It is seen by many as ambiguous, but any suggestion that this could be changing raises hackles in Beijing.
Read more on the 'One China' policy?
How has China reacted?
Under the policy, the US has formal ties with China rather than the island of Taiwan, which China sees as a breakaway province.
In a TV interview on Sunday, Mr Trump said he saw no reason why this should continue without key concessions.
China urged Mr Trump to understand the sensitivity of the Taiwan issue.
Foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told reporters that the "One China" policy was the basis for relations with Washington.
China's hawkish Global Times tabloid dubbed Mr Trump "ignorant as a child".
What did Mr Trump say exactly?
Image copyright AFP "I fully understand the 'One China' policy, but I don't understand why we have to be bound by the 'One China' policy unless we make a deal with China, having to do with other things, including trade."
The US was being hurt by Chinese currency devaluation, tariffs, the building of a "massive fortress" in the South China Sea, and a failure to help over North Korea's nuclear ambitions, he told Fox News.
The comments come hot on the heels of Mr Trump taking a call from the Taiwanese president, who congratulated him on his election victory. It earned a rebuke from Beijing.
In Sunday's interview, Mr Trump remained defiant.
"It was a call, very short call, saying 'congratulations, sir, on the victory'... and why should some other nation be able to say I can't take a call?"
Taiwan: A pawn in Trump's chess game
The Trump phone call that will stun Beijing
Trump rejects CIA Russia hacking report
'One China' policy in brief
Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Nixon in China - US policy shifts Rewind to 1949 and the Communist takeover in China. Kuomintang nationalists fled to Taiwan and set up their own government.
Since then, China has seen it as a renegade province, sometimes going so far as to threaten the use force if it ever declares independence.
After decades of formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, the US decided in 1979 it was in its best interests to recognise the Communist government in Beijing as the sole legal government of China.
This was the result of years of warming ties between Washington and Beijing, starting with President Richard Nixon's celebrated visit in 1972.
Formal ties with Taiwan were cut, but strong informal links remain, including substantial military support.
So the "One China" policy is Washington recognising that there is only one China, and Taiwan is part of it. It is seen by many as ambiguous, but any suggestion that this could be changing raises hackles in Beijing.
Read more on the 'One China' policy?
How has China reacted?
Comment