Trump Speaks with Taiwanese President, Creates Unease for China
President-elect Donald Trump spoke with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen on Friday, breaking decades-long diplomatic policy with China.
Trump tweeted Friday that he received a call from Tsai Ing-wen congratulating him on his election win, but China has expressed concern over the communication.
The President of Taiwan CALLED ME today to wish me congratulations on winning the Presidency. Thank you!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 3, 2016
The U.S. broke diplomatic ties with Taiwan in 1979. Since then no U.S. president or president-elect has spoken directly to the country's leader.
Trump has defended the encounter tweeting:
Interesting how the U.S. sells Taiwan billions of dollars of military equipment but I should not accept a congratulatory call.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 3, 2016
China is taking issue with the communication and voiced a stern complaint with the U.S., reiterating its commitment to seek "reunification" with Taiwan.
"It must be pointed out that there is only one China in the world and Taiwan is an inseparable part of Chinese territory," Geng Shuang, a ministry spokesman, said in a statement. "The government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legitimate government representing China."
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi downplayed the call, describing it as "just a small trick by Taiwan" that he believed would not change U.S. policy toward China, according to Hong Kong's Phoenix TV.
"The one-China policy is the cornerstone of the healthy development of China-U.S. relations and we hope this political foundation will not be interfered with or damaged," Wang said.
The Associated Press reports that according to the Taiwanese presidential office, Trump and Tsai discussed issues affecting Asia and the future of U.S. relations with Taiwan.
"The (Taiwanese) president is looking forward to strengthening bilateral interactions and contacts as well as setting up closer cooperative relations," the statement said.
Tsai also told Trump that she hoped the U.S. would support Taiwan in its participation in international affairs, the office said.
Bonnie Glaser, senior adviser for Asia at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, said China is likely trying to identify whether this signals any intent on the part of Trump to alter long-standing U.S. policy toward Taiwan.
"They will hope that this is a misstep, but I think privately, they will definitely seek to educate this incoming president and ensure that he understands the sensitivity of Taiwan," Glaser said.
