AuH20
12-02-2016, 09:09 PM
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-taiwan-idUSKBN13R2NT
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump spoke by phone on Friday with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, a move that is likely to infuriate China and complicate U.S. relations with Beijing.
The call was the first such contact with Taiwan by a U.S. president-elect or president since President Jimmy Carter adopted a one-China policy in 1979.
Trump said on Twitter that the Taiwanese leader initiated the call. "The President of Taiwan CALLED ME today to wish me congratulations on winning the Presidency. Thank you!" he said.
Alex Huang, a spokesman for Tsai, said: "Of course both sides agreed ahead of time before making contact."
The Trump transition team said in a statement that the two leaders noted that "close economic, political and security ties exist between Taiwan and the United States."
Taiwan's presidential office said the two leaders touched on strengthening bilateral interactions and establishing closer cooperation.
There was no immediate comment from China, which is likely to be angered because it views Taiwan as a renegade province.
WTH does this mean?
A former diplomat who helped arrange the call and did not want to be identified said Chinese officials he spoke to beforehand said they were not troubled by the call because Trump was not yet president. Trump takes office on Jan. 20.
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump spoke by phone on Friday with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, a move that is likely to infuriate China and complicate U.S. relations with Beijing.
The call was the first such contact with Taiwan by a U.S. president-elect or president since President Jimmy Carter adopted a one-China policy in 1979.
Trump said on Twitter that the Taiwanese leader initiated the call. "The President of Taiwan CALLED ME today to wish me congratulations on winning the Presidency. Thank you!" he said.
Alex Huang, a spokesman for Tsai, said: "Of course both sides agreed ahead of time before making contact."
The Trump transition team said in a statement that the two leaders noted that "close economic, political and security ties exist between Taiwan and the United States."
Taiwan's presidential office said the two leaders touched on strengthening bilateral interactions and establishing closer cooperation.
There was no immediate comment from China, which is likely to be angered because it views Taiwan as a renegade province.
WTH does this mean?
A former diplomat who helped arrange the call and did not want to be identified said Chinese officials he spoke to beforehand said they were not troubled by the call because Trump was not yet president. Trump takes office on Jan. 20.