For years, the U.S. government has urged China to show "restraint" in pushing its claim on Taiwan and to drop military threats to bring the democratically governed island under its control. Now - some Chinese commentators say - the power of that long-held U.

Nicholas Burns, the U.S. ambassador to China, also said he was leaving his post with deep concerns about the future of relations with China.

The U.S. ally is signaling its willingness to negotiate military and economic matters related to the island but not to sell it.

Carla Sands, U.S. ambassador to Denmark during Donald Trump’s first term, explains why the president-elect wants Greenland.