US President-elect Donald Trump has voiced his reluctance to extend Washington's support for the "One China" policy unless Beijing is willing to make concessions on trade and other issues.

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"I don't want China to continue dictating to me," Trump said while defending his recent phone conversation with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-Wen in an interview on Sunday. "I don't know why we have to be 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 recognizes that Taiwan is a part of China.

Trump was responding to a question about his controversial conversation with the Taiwanese leader Tsai. The move broke decades of well-preserved United States diplomatic relations with China.

In his opinion, Trump said that it would have been disrespectful not to take the call from Tsai. He said that the Taiwanese leader only wanted to congratulate him on his recent victory.

The United States recognizes Beijing as the sole representative of China.

Trump claimed that he only had a few hours notice that the call from Taiwan's president was coming. He described claims that the call had been weeks in planning as false.

Trump also went on to reiterate his belief that China is a currency manipulator. He added that China needs to be more assertive when dealing with North Korea's nuclear ambitions.

According to Trump, China could solve the North Korea problem, "but they are not helping at all."

Trump also criticized China's "aggressive" actions in the South China Sea.

The "One China" policy was developed after the end of the Chinese civil war when the Nationalist government under the leadership of Chiang Kai-Shek was overthrown by the Communists.

The United States first adopted the policy in 1972 after then-President Richard Nixon opened up diplomatic relations with China.

The United States continued to maintain informal relations with Taiwan.

In recent years, there have been calls from within Taiwan for the government to declare independence from the mainland China.

China is, however, strongly opposed to this.

Tagsdonald trump, china, North Korea