Chinese sovereignty not a bargaining chip: China’s envoy to US

China says matters of sovereignty and territorial integrity are non-negotiable, in yet another reaction to comments by US President-elect Donald Trump, who has suggested his administration-in-waiting may want to trade the recognition of Chinese sovereignty on Taiwan for economic and political concessions from Beijing.

“Basic norms of international relations should be observed, not ignored, certainly not be seen as something you can trade off,” said Cui Tiankai, the Chinese Ambassador to the US, while speaking to the executives of top American companies on Wednesday.

“And indeed, national sovereignty and territorial integrity are not bargaining chips. Absolutely not. I hope everybody would understand that,” Cui added, in a thinly-veiled message to Trump.

The Chinese ambassador stressed, however, that Beijing and Washington needed to work to strengthen their relationship, saying, “The political foundation of China-US relations should not be undermined. It should be preserved.”

In controversial remarks made to Fox News on Sunday, Trump had said he did not feel “bound by a ‘One China’ policy unless we make a deal with China having to do with other things, including trade.”

The “One China” policy refers to the recognition by other countries of Chinese sovereignty over self-ruled Taiwan. The US adopted the policy in 1979 and has ever since been maintaining only unofficial ties with Taiwan.

However, Trump earlier took a phone call from Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, making a major break from US diplomatic protocol and angering China.

ME