BEIJING, January 10. /TASS/. China has no desire to become a hegemon in the world and does not intend to challenge the United States, Chinese Ambassador to the United States Xie Feng said.

"The last thing we want is to challenge the United States or edge it out. We sincerely hope to be partners and friends with the United States," China Central Television (CCTV) quoted him as saying at an event organized by the Carter Center and other organizations.

However, China has "interests that need to be defended, principles that need to be advocated and red lines that cannot be crossed," he stressed.

The Chinese diplomat emphasized the importance of the Taiwan issue as "the most sensitive matter in Chinese-US relations."

"No one values peace and stability on the other side of the Taiwan Strait as much as the Chinese side. But separatism in the name of 'Taiwan’s independence' is as incompatible with peace in the strait as fire is with water," he noted.

"When it comes to separatists who stand for ‘Taiwan’s independence,’ who betray their homeland and refuse to identify themselves as the Chinese, the Chinese government simply has no room for compromise," the Chinese ambassador warned and called on the US side to stick to the one-China policy.