French FM says Trump's remarks over one-China policy "not clever"

U.S. president-elect Donald Trump's remarks questioning the one-China policy principle "is not clever," French Foreign Minister Jean Marc Ayrault said Wednesday, calling the upcoming Trump Administration "to avoid things spiralling out of control."

"When China feels questioned on its unity, that's not exactly very clever," Ayrault told France 2 public television.

"China is a big country. We can have our differences with China, but you don't talk to a partner like that," he said. "I hope that the new team will have learnt enough so that we manage an uncertain world with more sang-froid and responsibility," the French top diplomat added.

On "Fox News Sunday," Trump said he does not feel "bound by a one-China policy unless we make a deal with China having to do with other things, including trade."

The inappropriate rhetoric came just days after Trump held a phone call with Taiwan leader Tsai Ing-wen, breaking decades of U.S. diplomatic policy.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang noted on Monday at a daily press briefing that China is "gravely concerned" about Trump's latest remarks. He cautioned that the Taiwan issue, concerning China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, involves China's core interest. Endi