Weeks before he took office, US President Donald Trump has created diplomatic upsets. Because of a telephone call with Taiwan's state, considered by China as a breakaway province, Beijing has promptly filed protest.
In the conversation, Trump and Tsai Ing Wen agreed that there was close ties between the US and Taiwan in the economic, political and security arena, Trumps said. The Presidential Office in Taipeh said the two politicians had talked about expanding cooperation.
First such contact for 40 years
The telephone call was the first such contact between an elected or a reigning US president and a Taiwanese head of state for almost 40 years.
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| Donald Trump on the phone: Beijing is anything but pleased with his talk with Taiwan's national. |
The Chinese foreign ministry demanded that the US should maintain the so-called One-China policy in order to prevent unnecessary disturbances in relations.
Obama spokesman tried to settle
Trump was unaware of China's criticism of the telephone call: Tsai had called him to congratulate him on his victory in the presidential election, he explained on Twitter. "Interesting that the US sell Taiwan military equipment for billions of dollars, but I am not supposed to accept a congratulatory call."
The US Presidential Office had not been informed of the call by Trump in advance. A spokesman for President Barack Obama said immediately that the "long-term policy" on China and Taiwan had not changed. "We are sticking to our 'one-China policy'," the spokesman said.
"Lappy attempt" to shake at One-China policy
In 1979, the US government took up the diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China and cut off its official links with Taiwan. The leadership in Beijing considers Taiwan to be part of the People's Republic. The United States is the closest political alliance to the government in Taipei and an important weapon supplier.
China also expressed criticism of Taiwan, which had undertaken a "lazy attempt" to shake the one-China policy. Foreign Minister Wang Yi emphasized that Trump had already praised China shortly after his election as a great country. This he expressed in a telephone call with the Chinese head of state Xi Jinping.
The real estate contractor Trump assumes the presidency on 20 January. In the election campaign Trump China had repeatedly criticized sharply and threatened punitive imports on imports. His consultants have indicated that he wants to represent a tougher line against China than his predecessor. He wanted to expand the US armed forces, for example, in response to the strengthening of the People's Republic.
The official Chinese news agency Xinhua commented on the Trumps proceeding with the words, China and the US "do not necessarily have to be opponents". Trump should know that China can be a cooperative partner as long as the US respects its core interests. This also includes the Taiwan issue.
