BEIJING — In a break with decadeslong diplomatic tradition, Presidentelect Donald Trump spoke directly with the president of Taiwan, a move that drew an irritated response from China and looked set to cast uncertainty over US policy toward Asia.
It is perhaps unprecedented for a US president or president-elect to speak directly with a leader of Taiwan, a self-governing island the US broke diplomatic ties with in 1979.
In first comments apparently meant to downplay the significance of the call, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Saturday that the contact between Taiwan’s president and Trump was “just a small trick by Taiwan” that he believed would not change US policy toward China, according to Hong Kong’s Phoenix TV.
“The one-China policy is the cornerstone of the healthy development of China-US relations and we hope this political foundationon will not be interfered with or damaged,” Wang was quoted as saying.
Washington has pursued a socalled “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 US recognizes Beijing as representing China but retains unofficialties with Taiwan.
A statement from Trump’s transition team said he spoke on Friday with Taiwanese President Tsai Ingwen, who offered her congratulations on his election win. Trump tweeted later that Tsai “CALLED ME.” He also groused about the reaction to the call: “Interesting how the US sells Taiwan billions of dollars of military equipment but I should not accept a congratulatory call.”
The Taiwanese presidential office said Trump and Tsai discussed issues affecting Asia and the future of US relations with Taiwan.
“The (Taiwanese) president is looking forward to strengthening bilateral interactions and contacts as well as setting up closer cooperative relations,” the statement said.
Tsai also told Trump that she hoped the US would support Taiwan in its participation in international affairs, the office said, in an apparent reference to China’s efforts to isolate Taiwan from global institutions such as the United Nations.
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 and its foreign ministry and Taiwan Affairs Office in Beijing did not respond to requests 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 US diplomacy. — AP
