One-China principle not for bargaining

Provocative as the call from Taiwan leader Tsai Ing-wen was, Beijing has been the model of restraint over United States president-elect Donald Trump's receiving it, showing unusual patience for what it deems pre-presidential acclimatization.

Apparently convinced Trump will be different after assuming office and surround himself with people schooled in the diplomatic arts, Beijing seems to be banking on the business acumen Trump developed as real estate mogul to come to the fore when he takes over from Barack Obama in January.

But Trump's remarks in an interview with Fox News on Sunday, in which he suggested the one China consensus that underpins ties between China and the US is a bargaining chip in his deal making, should be a wakeup call that this might not be the case.