It’s a cornerstone of China’s foreign policy, invoked vehemently whenever critics challenge its human rights record or its policy towards Taiwan: Don’t interfere in another country’s internal affairs.

US diplomats have met the crew of the downed American spy plane in China.

China says it has the right to inspect the US Navy surveillance plane that made an emergency landing on Hainan island.

President Bush says he is disturbed that China is helping Iraq build a more sophisticated defence network.