Posted on 02/09/2017 9:41:23 PM PST by Pinkbell
Donald Trump has held his first telephone conversation with the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, since entering the White House, telling the Communist party leader he will not challenge Beijing by upending longstanding US policy towards Taiwan.
In a statement the White House said the leaders of the worlds two largest economies had held a lengthy and extremely cordial telephone call on Thursday evening in which numerous topics were discussed.
President Trump agreed, at the request of President Xi, to honor our One China policy, the White House said, referring to a diplomatic understanding by which Washington does not challenge Chinas claim over Taiwan, a democratically ruled island that Beijing considers a breakaway province.
Following his shock election in November last year, Trump had infuriated and unnerved Beijing by questioning his administrations commitment to that policy and holding an unprecedented phone conversation with Taiwans president, Tsai Ing-wen.
On Tuesday some of the worlds leading China specialists warned that already precarious ties between Beijing and Washington could be plunged into a dangerous new era, partly as a result of Trumps rise to power.
Bonnie Glaser, the director of the China power project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) think tank in Washington, said the conversation between the two leaders, which had taken almost three weeks to arrange, would calm fears that US-China relations were on the verge of a damaging breakdown.
I think the entire region will heave a sigh of relief here, she said. One hopes that what this understanding has achieved is to enable the US and China to head off a major crisis.
Glaser said she believed China had been holding off arranging a phone call with Trump until it was convinced he would not seek to challenge Beijing over Taiwan.
(Excerpt) Read more at theguardian.com ...
However, that isnt to say that the US has always been consistent in its treatment of Taiwan. Just last year, the Obama administration sold $1.83 billion of defensive weapons to Taiwan against Chinas objections. In response, US Department of State's Bureau of Political-Military Affairs David McKeeby defended the sale, saying US arms sales to Taiwan are guided by the Taiwan Relations Act and based on an assessment of Taiwan's defense needs.
This is true and another aspect of the thorny relationship between the three (or two, depending on whos counting) countries. In 1979, the US signed the Taiwan Relations Act in an effort to improve relations with China while maintaining relations with Taiwan. The treaty ended US recognition of Taiwan but also made the US responsible for military intervention in the case of an attack or invasion from China.
https://www.rt.com/usa/369077-trump-taiwan-president-call/
Liberals are currently mocking Trump on Twitter - saying it's a horrible day for him and that he caved, saying he's pushed around by Russia (usual talking point) and China. That said, I don't recall Trump ever making a definitive statement on the 'One China' policy. He did say we don't have to be necessarily bound by it and that everything is up for negotiation, though. Ironically, the same liberals mocking Trump would be having fear-based meltdowns if he said he wanted to undo the policy.
Interested in hearing thoughts and if people disagree or agree with this.
Trump agrees.
So let’s stand aside and let China reoccupy it’s island of Taiwan. /s
And he should NEVER agree to the stupid "ONE CHINA"...if he did.
This is not our fight.
All of the liberal media are reporting it but there is no direct statement from the White House that I have seen.
Until onw sees a statement direct from the White House, this means nothing.
My take is Trump is interested in a deal with China and he can’t even get to the negotiation table with them unless he takes Taiwan off the table. Trump has bigger fish to fry like trade and is not an idealogue. Trump also has been known to change his mind at times so he could always make it an issue later.
This wasn’t leaked. This was from a White House statement about the call.
President Trump agreed, at the request of President Xi, to honor our One China policy, the White House said, referring to a diplomatic understanding by which Washington does not challenge Chinas claim over Taiwan, a democratically ruled island that Beijing considers a breakaway province.
That’s what the UN wants us to believe.
Bookmark
Trump is simply using the old standard:
“Promise her ANYTHING but give her Arpege.”
It’s to humor the mainland Chinese only but does not reflect the realities on the ground. It’s been the American approach for a long time. Trump has bigger fish to fry at the moment and doesn’t need distractions.
China has been putting the charm offense/pressure on Jared and Ivanka—which appears to be the right move for China.
Trump also just sent them a flowery, public letter.
I am not hearing of any concessions on the other side.
Reversing the One china policy was NEVER in the cards. Just bluster from Trump to rattle the Chicoms.
Grant recognition of Red China. Admission of Red China to the UN.This is number 7 on the list of communist goals for a reason.
“China has said that the One China policy isnt negotiable.”
That means it is. And it means they will pay a price. Maybe in certain behaviors, maybe in fiscal policy, etc. But even such a statement is deal making behavior.
They demanded something important to them. Trump granted it. The day will come when we will tell them one of our demands. If they do not agree, Taiwan can go right back on the table.
“if you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice”.
Maybe this is what’s going on. The Chinese can be very, very stubborn. They don’t care who’s offended, so long as it’s not them. This topic can be revisited later, after certain deals have been made, publicized and acted upon.
Ted Cruz has already had lunch with the President of Taiwan
some weeks ago. She may know to expect this artificial diplomacy.
I saw that. You think people can’t read her on FR?
The same sources are all repeating the same thing, it’s their echo chamber.
There is no direct statement from the White House. The liberal scumbags are saying “the White House said”, and all of them are repeating one person saying that.
Is there a press statement from Spicer? Conway?
There is nothing. I’ve looked and there is nothing.
If you disagree, go find the direct statement and provide a link.
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