Trump speaks with Taiwan's president, risking China tensions

[rooster59]

Trump speaks with Taiwan's president, risking China tensions

JONATHAN LEMIRE, Associated Press
MATTHEW PENNINGTON, Associated Press

 

NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump spoke Friday with the president of Taiwan, a move that will be sure to anger China.

 

It is highly unusual, probably unprecedented, for a U.S. president or president-elect to speak directly with a leader of Taiwan, a self-governing island the U.S. broke diplomatic ties with in 1979.

 

Washington has pursued a so-called "one China" policy since 1979, when it shifted diplomatic recognition of China from the government in Taiwan to the communist government on the mainland. Under that policy, the U.S. recognizes Beijing as representing China but retains unofficial ties with Taiwan.

 

A statement from Trump's transition team said he spoke with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, who offered her congratulations. It was not clear who initiated the call.

 

"During the discussion, they noted the close economic, political, and security ties ... between Taiwan and the United States. President-elect Trump also congratulated President Tsai on becoming President of Taiwan earlier this year," the statement said.

 

A Taiwanese source with direct knowledge of the call confirmed it had taken place. The source requested anonymity to speak about it before an official statement was issued on it from Taipei.

 

The White House learned of the conversation after it had taken place, said a senior Obama administration official, who requested anonymity because of the sensitive diplomatic relations involved.

 

China's embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

 

Friday's call is the starkest example yet of how Trump has flouted diplomatic conventions since he won the Nov. 8 election. He has apparently undertaken calls with foreign leaders without guidance customarily lent by the State Department, which oversees U.S. diplomacy.

 

Tsai was democratically elected in January and took office in May. The traditional independence-leaning policies of her party have strained relations with Beijing.

 

Over the decades, the status of Taiwan has been one of the most sensitive issues in U.S.-China relations. China regards Taiwan as part of its territory to be retaken by force, if necessary, if it seeks independence. It would regard any recognition of a Taiwanese leader as a head of state as unacceptable.

 

Taiwan split from the Chinese mainland amid civil war in 1949. The U.S. policy acknowledges the Chinese view over sovereignty, but considers Taiwan's status as unsettled.

 

Although the U.S. does not have formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, it has close unofficial ties. Taiwan's government has a representative office in Washington and other U.S. cities. The U.S. also has legal commitments to help Taiwan maintain the ability to defend itself.

 

Taiwan is separated from China by the 110-mile-wide Taiwan Strait. The island counts the U.S. as its most important security partner and source of arms, but it is increasingly outgunned by China.

 

Ned Price, a spokesman for the White House National Security Council, said Trump'sconversation does not signal any change to long-standing U.S. policy on "cross-strait" issues.

 

"We remain firmly committed to our 'one China' policy," Price said. "Our fundamental interest is in peaceful and stable cross-strait relations."

 

The NSC stressed that every president has benefited from the "expertise and counsel" of the State Department on matters like this, which suggested that the White House was frustrated by Trump's conversation with the Taiwanese leader.

 

Still, the White House said Obama remains committed to a smooth transition to the new administration.

 

Diplomatic protocol dictates that Taiwanese presidents can transit through the U.S. but not visit Washington.

 

Douglas Paal, who served as head of the American Institute in Taiwan during the George W. Bush administration, said that to his knowledge the call was unprecedented. He said he expected Beijing to issue a verbal warning that there's no space to change the rules over Taiwan relations.

 

 

-- © Associated Press 2016-12-03

[OMGImInPattaya]

She called Him...it's a phone call...good on Trump for taking a call from democratic China...let Xi pound sand ?

[SaintLouisBlues]

He probably thought it was Thailand - a common mistake I find among my fellow Ameicans

[daveAustin]

If it winds up the politburo, it's good. 

[craigt3365]

26 minutes ago, SaintLouisBlues said:

He probably thought it was Thailand - a common mistake I find among my fellow Ameicans

It's not just Americans.  My last trip to Europe, after telling them where we were from, they'd ask how it was in Taiwan. LOL

[NeilSA1]

"Tsai was democratically elected" - this says it all.  Well done.

[ezzra]

That will definitely get the Chinese noses out of joint.. not since 1974 when than

president Carter has declared One China policy, a US president has any open dialogues

with Taiwan.... We sure live in interesting times....

[iReason]

Just now, OMGImInPattaya said:

She called Him...it's a phone call...good on Trump for taking a call from democratic China...

 

Right. That's what the huckster says...

 

Donald Trump claims Taiwan president called him amid fears of sparking conflict with China

 

"Shortly after reports broke about the call, Mr Trump issued a tweet saying that Ms Tsai called him. However, his claim does not appear to be true according to a Taipei Times report."

 

"The President of Taiwan CALLED ME today to wish me congratulations on winning the Presidency. Thank you!" he tweeted.

 

"However, the call was apparently "arranged by his Taiwan-friendly campaign staff", according to the Times' sources."

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/donald-trump-taiwan-conflict-china-a7453411.html

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2016/12/03/2003660473

 

"Trump has apparently been considering building a luxury hotel chain in the northwest Taiwanese city of Taoyuan,

the Shanghaiist reported last month"  

http://www.businessinsider.com/trump-phone-call-to-taiwan-likely-to-infuriate-china-2016-12 

Edited December 3, 2016 by iReason

[yellowboat]

It will be difficult for the less than nimble minds in Washington to come to grips with the fact that the president elected owes nobody anythings.  Love him or hate him he will probably cast protocol aside if he feels it just gets in the way.

 

He probably wants Taiwan to shoulder the burden of their own defense. 

[Silurian]

26 minutes ago, iReason said:

"The President of Taiwan CALLED ME today to wish me congratulations on winning the Presidency. Thank you!" he tweeted.

 

"However, the call was apparently "arranged by his Taiwan-friendly campaign staff", according to the Times' sources."

 

"Well, someone from Taiwan called me...how am I supposed to know who is on the other end?!" 

[OMGImInPattaya]

1 hour ago, SaintLouisBlues said:

He probably thought it was Thailand - a common mistake I find among my fellow Ameicans

What's Trump got going on in Thailand...is Melania on the way out...what have you heard ?

[SaintLouisBlues]

5 minutes ago, OMGImInPattaya said:

What's Trump got going on in Thailand...is Melania on the way out...what have you heard ?

Don't you mean Melanoma?

[OMGImInPattaya]

53 minutes ago, ezzra said:

That will definitely get the Chinese noses out of joint.. not since 1974 when than

president Carter has declared One China policy, a US president has any open dialogues

with Taiwan.... We sure live in interesting times....

You mean none had the balls...well Trump did tell us he had big ones ?

[SaintLouisBlues]

5 minutes ago, OMGImInPattaya said:

You mean none had the balls...well Trump did tell us he had big ones ?

Those were hands, weren't they, big enough to handle ... you know

[NeverSure]

The US has pussyfooted around with China for too long. "Let them eat cake". They always want things their way but it's always one-sided.

 

The US sells billions of dollars of military equipment to Taiwan but can't take a phone call from them. I'd say Trump is the adult in the room.

 

Cheers.

[Sydebolle]

America's foreign policy has been more than not a disaster in most incidents after 1945. 

Yet Mr Trump can talk to anybody, president-elect or not and it is time to clip the PR China's wings a little. The Laotians showed them in January this year, now it is the US' turn - well done!

[aslimversgwm]

The 1st tiny step towards WWIII - even be4 he's the actual president.

This dangerous, ignorant buffoon!

[Dustdevil]

Then the US military had better hurry up and deploy space satellite defensive/offensive weaponry. Both the Russians and the Chinese have already begun to do so to a limited degree. The biggest vulnerability is the 24-satellite GPS system, since everything in the US runs off it--even gas pumps and ATM machines (they're timed off GPS). The US never sent up any weaponized sats because there was no threat anticipated. Eliminate about 6 GPS satellites and the US becomes helpless. Not to mention all the other types of sats. Oh yes--and no more DirecTV either. My apologies to those who have seen the CNN report.

Edited December 3, 2016 by Dustdevil

[haroldc]

Its about time the USA stopped kowtowing to the Chinese - a viscous, repressive regime intent on establishing a pan-Asian hegemony.  BRAVO!!!

[Stargeezr]

Oh  Taiwan and USA had a phone call... Well China,  get over it..

I hope there are a few other shake ups in the next 4 years.

  In Canada  there will not be anything other than our  new

Carbon Tax in Alberta starting in Jan 2017, lucky us.

  Take our PM,,,  and premier ,,  please!

[Credo]

4 minutes ago, Stargrazer9889 said:

Oh  Taiwan and USA had a phone call... Well China,  get over it..

I hope there are a few other shake ups in the next 4 years.

  In Canada  there will not be anything other than our  new

Carbon Tax in Alberta starting in Jan 2017, lucky us.

  Take our PM ,,,  and premier ,,  please!

I am sure there are plenty of people south of your border who would trade you a Trump for a Trudeaux, straight up.   Of course, there are a whole bunch of people who have threatened to move to Canada who might not know which side of the border they should be on.   

[sekmet]

3 hours ago, ezzra said:

That will definitely get the Chinese noses out of joint.. not since 1974 when than

president Carter has declared One China policy, a US president has any open dialogues

with Taiwan.... We sure live in interesting times....

 

Nixon was President in 1974. Nixon also took the US off the gold standard.

 

I blame Nixon.

[Gary A]

If there were to be a major fallout with China, who would suffer the most? The US has a huge trade deficit with China. If there were a trade war, China would be seriously hurt. Do you really suppose that Trump is afraid to talk to Taiwan because it may offend China?

[Thaidream]

China is a clear and present danger to the World. They are economic expansionists seeking markets and  resources to keep their population docile so the Communist Part survives forever. I like what Trump did. It sends a message to the Chinese that America is not going to roll over simply because China holds a lot of American debt.

Trump will cozy up to Russia which will make the Chinese anxious. In addition, his choice as SecDef will make the Chinese and others think twice about antagonizing the US because the US could well shoot back. In addition, foreign nations will see Trump as a guy who does what he wants and  doesn't need to follow the dictates of past protocol.

No one wants a war but  sometimes speaking softly and carrying a big stick actually keeps you out of war.

I didn't vote for Trump but I find his methodology and modus operandi quite interesting. Let's see what he does.

 

[Jingthing]

trump has the "toddler" excuse for plausible deniability for anything he does. Nobody expects him to know anything about foreign policy, because he knows nothing, so this diplomatic kerfuffle can be downplayed in a way it couldn't with a regular president that isn't a narcissistic man baby. 

Edited December 3, 2016 by Jingthing

[sgtsabai]

He just wanted to use his new title of fascist in chief to make a deal for a new Trumpet Tower. He doesn't know enough to discuss something like foreign policy, it fact foreign and policy are both foreign to him. Well, maybe he does have a "policy", "screw all the rest, I'll get money however I can and the office of fascist in chief will make me rich, after all that's why I'm here, screw America".

[Andaman Al]

2 hours ago, NeverSure said:

The US has pussyfooted around with China for too long. "Let them eat cake". They always want things their way but it's always one-sided.

 

The US sells billions of dollars of military equipment to Taiwan but can't take a phone call from them. I'd say Trump is the adult in the room.

 

Cheers.

Lets see you adopt the same stance if China calls in the 1.2 trillion debt the US owes it in treasury bonds.

[geriatrickid]

4 hours ago, daveAustin said:

If it winds up the politburo, it's good. 

 

No it's not. The Chinese have a tactical hacking unit and  the potential to cause serious disruption in Asia.  Just one  serious  hacking event and the USA  would be crippled. Even for a day or so, it would be serious.  Ever hear of North Korea? The only thing keeping fatboy from starting a war  is China. I am no fan of the Chinese, but the USA is dependent upon China for so many  products that it could not easily replace. Don't believe me? How many  Americans are on a low dose aspirin regime?4 million or so? If tomorrow, China says ok, no more trade, the world loses its ASA supply as much of it comes from China. Need some  key drugs? Think again as over 50% of the world's active  ingredients are sourced from China. Want some computers? A telephone?  Tools? vehicle components? Not easily replaceable by the USA. The US  consumers killed their own economy when they wanted cheaper priced products and when investors wanted higher returns on investment. As ye sow, so shall ye reap.

[Thaidream]

He is definitely a narcissist and loves to tell everyone how wonderful he is. I wish he would stop his self aggrandizing.

-If he and his minions had any guts he would repeal Obamacare- go to a single payer system under Medicare- expand it to the whole population- pay for it through the tax system for those working- and free for anyone else and allow it to be used anywhere in the World. This gets the Insurance industry and Big Pharma out of the picture and stops the obscene cost of healthcare in the US. It works in every other industrialised country in the World and even some that aren't like Mexico and other South American countries. Of course it's socialistic but Governments exist to serve the people not the other way around. Instead,  Repubs are talking about insurance exchanges; portability across state lines and subsidies. As long as Healthcare is considered a business to make money off a person's suffering- nothing will change.

[Thaidream]

While you have a point about the supply chain- America can make anything China can make and it's time to bring the manufacturing of all essential items back to the US. It doesn't have to happen over night but part of the strategic American plan must be to have energy independence.

and economic independence from potential enemies. In addition, China at present needs the business because if America doesn't buy their people don't work or have income and at that point the whole Communist system starts to collapse and the Chinese governance becomes obsolete.