Posted on 12/04/2016 11:45:51 AM PST by E. Pluribus Unum
BEIJING — President-elect Donald Trump might have broken with four decades of diplomatic protocol by speaking to Taiwanese leader Tsai Ing-wen on Friday. But the phone call should not have come as a complete surprise.
Some critics portrayed the move as the thoughtless blundering of a foreign policy novice, but other experts say it appears more calculated, planned in advance to signal a new, robust approach to relations with China.
Trump, of course, made standing up to China’s “rape” of the U.S. economy one of his central campaign messages, and since his election win he has signaled his disdain for the conventions that govern political and diplomatic life in Washington.
Several leading members of his transition team are considered hawkish on China and friendly toward Taiwan, including chief of staff Reince Priebus.
Indeed, advisers explicitly warned last month that relations with China were in for a shake-up.
How is it calculated? Trump did not initiate the conversation. He answered a phone call made to him!
Yup. And as usual, half the FReepers got it wrong.
“Some critics portrayed the move as the thoughtless blundering of a foreign policy novice, but other experts say it appears more calculated, planned in advance to signal a new, robust approach to relations with China.”
Who are those “critics?”
It’s an anonymous source, favorite source of fake news sites everywhere.
I doubt he was the one who picked up the phone. One of his assistants probably did and asked if he would take it. Thinking fast Trump probably thought this would be a good opportunity to “tweak” the Chicoms and let them know there is a new Sheriff in town!
The point is, Trump did not dial 1-800-TAIWAN
He sent a shot across China’s bow!
I expect the Trump team will be dusting off the history of the 1985 “Plaza Accord” which dealt with Japan currency, devaluing US Dollar by about 50% versus Yen.
Does anyone here remember that at one time, 7 of the 10 largest banks were Japanese?
Same deal as today with China, which has been actively making their currency (Yuan Renminbi) cheaper since 2013, killing American jobs . . . JUST LIKE TRUMP HAS BEEN SAYING.
The primary leverage to get Japan to go along was implied threat of tariffs. YES, you so-called conservative IDIOTS(like Mark Levin), REAGAN USED this threat. Does anyone doubt he would have followed through if the Japanese refused to comply?
The effect of the Accord crashed the Nippon stock market by 75% starting in 1989, and led to a deep and lengthy recession in Japan.
Too bad. Same has to happen in China which, as Trump has been saying, has been ripping American blind.
Because he could have refused the call. Right now it is almost impossible for anyone to just call up Trump. He is the most sought after person on the planet right now for communication. You call his staff, who then decides if they should even inform Trump about the pending call. My guess is the President of Taiwan took a chance because perhaps Trump finally represented real change in America. And now everyone in the world knows he does. No more buying off US politicians.
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