China is committed to peace and won't cause "chaos" in the world, but cannot give up even an inch of territory that the country's ancestors have left behind, Chinese President Xi Jinping told U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis on Wednesday. Mattis, a former Marine general, has been highly critical of China's muscular military moves in the disputed South China Sea. The U.S. military even withdrew an invitation to China to join a multinational naval exercise that will start during Mattis' visit, upsetting Beijing. Beijing is also deeply suspicious of U.S. intentions toward self-governing and democratic Taiwan, which is armed by the United States. China views the island as a sacred part of its territory.

China: we won't give up one inch of territory. (2018, June 28). Philippine Star, pp. 1, 6.