China cries foul over a meeting between United States National Security Advisor John Bolton and Taiwan's security chief Lee Ta-wei during Lee's trip to the U.S. recently. China on May 27 voiced its firm opposition to the official contact between the U.S. and Taiwan "in any form" and "under any excuse." 

The Taiwan issue is one of the most important security issues for China. The one-China principle is the bedrock of China-U.S. relations, according to Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang. He said Washington should abide by the principles of the three China-U.S. joint communiques. CGTN Senior Correspondent Tian Wei spoke to a group of panelists to explore the issue further. 

"Taiwan is highly related to China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, so we will do whatever we could do to defend our sovereignty and national territorial sovereignty," said Zhong Houtao, a researcher in Taiwan studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. 

But, amid rising trade tensions between China and the U.S., Washington is apparently playing the Taiwan card. 

Last week, the U.S. military sent two Navy ships through the Taiwan Strait, without permission from the Chinese government, which protested the affront to territorial sovereignty, and regional peace and stability. 

Zhong said that in the future if the U.S. continued to use Taiwan as a bargaining chip to irritate the Chinese mainland, he believes that China would take countermeasures do defend its sovereignty. 

Former legislator and Chief Executive Officer of the Chunghua 21st Century Think Tank Joanna Lei lives and grew up in Taiwan. She is a firm supporter of regional peace: "The Chinese people suffered during the war in the past. It took us a very long time to come to where we are. It was through the blood and sweat that we reached today's stage. So war should not be tempted easily, and peace is something to be treasured by all means."

Current affairs commentator Einar Tangen also said the territorial integrity is something can't be compromised, nor can it be used as a pressure point.