Posted on 12/02/2016 3:30:48 PM PST by Steelfish
Trump Likely Just Infuriated China With The US's First Call To Taiwan Since 1979 Alex Lockie and Natasha Bertrand,
President-elect Donald Trump spoke with the president of Taiwan by phone on Friday, in a move likely to infuriate Beijing and hinder US-China relations.
"President-elect Trump spoke with President Tsai Ing-wen of Taiwan, who offered her congratulations," according to a readout of the call released by Trump's transition team. "During the discussion, they noted the close economic, political, and security ties" between Taiwan and the United States, the statement continued. "President-elect Trump also congratulated President Tsai on becoming President of Taiwan earlier this year."
The call, first reported by the Financial Times, is the first time a US president has directly spoken with Taiwan's leadership in more than 30 years. The White House was not made aware of the call until after it occurred, according to The New York Times.
The US suspended formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan in 1979 after establishing a One China position — which states that "there is but one China and Taiwan is part of China" — in an effort to establish diplomatic channels with Beijing.
Beijing views Taiwan as a province of China, whereas Taiwan — which has its own democratically elected government — has a more complicated view of the nations' relationship.
Ing-wen, who was elected the first female president of Taiwan in May, told The Washington Post over the summer that she hopes Chinese President Xi Jinping "can appreciate that Taiwan is a democratic society in which the leader has to follow the will of the people."
Analysts were quick to point out that the phone call will likely infuriate Beijing.
"Trump almost surely unaware of Taiwan-China sensitivities before taking President's call," Bremmer added. "They don't yet have Asia expertise on team."
(Excerpt) Read more at yahoo.com ...
F Beijing
Keep on Trump’n
What’s China going to do, quit trading with us?
Who has who by the scrotum now?
Trump knew what he was doing.
Cool!
Go President Trump!
We don’t need China’s permission to use the phone.
Ha...I guess he cooked that up during his meet with Bolton
Trump has been on China from the start because of uneven trade policies...He really doesn’t care if China is mad because he made a phone call...
The libs are once again playing not to lose. Trump plays to win.
Meanwhile Kissinger flies to Red China to rat on the discussion he had with Trump...
Take that Mao Commie regime, signed Chang Kai Check’s bad boys!
Maybe he should recognize Taiwan and tell the PRC to pound sand, or toxic dog food or something.
Or....maintain the “One China” policy but say “Yes, we continue to believe that there is only one China, but we view the non-Communist government in Taipei as the legitimate leadership.”
Another WIN.
Anyone getting tired of winning yet?
Awesome! Get the Chinese off balance before you bring up trade. Also, Trump just today or yesterday invited President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines to the White House. That will make the Chinese a bit nervous too because of the friction between Philippines and China over disputed islands.
[Trump almost surely unaware of Taiwan-China sensitivities before taking President’s call,” Bremmer added. “They don’t yet have Asia expertise on team.]
Was TRUMP supposed to hang up on the TAIWAN President? LOL
I think they’re just talking about heads of state.
Q: How do you pronounce the capital of China?
A: Formosa!
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