The Chinese government warned Donald Trump on Monday that cooperation between Washington and Beijing would be jeopardized if the U.S. refuses to uphold its long-held position that Taiwan is part of a single China.
China's Foreign Ministry expressed "serious concern" after Trump told Fox News on Sunday he saw no reason why the U.S. should continue to abide by the "One China" policy that denies Taiwan sovereignty unless Beijing is prepared to negotiate a new deal.
"China has noted the report and expresses serious concern about it. I want to stress that the Taiwan issue concerns China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and involves China's core interests," ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told reporters Monday, according to Reuters.
"Upholding the 'one China' principle is the political basis for developing China-U.S. ties. If this basis is interfered with or damaged then the healthy development of China-U.S. relations and bilateral cooperation in important areas is out of the question," Geng added.
Trump faced protest from China earlier this month after he strayed from four decades of diplomatic custom by talking on the phone with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen.
Less than a week after the 10-minute call, Beijing flew a nuclear-capable bomber over the South China Sea to send a message to the president-elect and his incoming administration, Fox News reported. The Chinese H-6 bomber was flown along the disputed "nine-dash line" that encompasses Taiwan and several disputed islands.
Still, Geng said Beijing had reached out to the Trump administration. He said China's top diplomat Yang Jiechi recently met with Trump advisers, including his expected national security adviser, retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn.