Trump defends his historic phone call with the president of Taiwan: The Donald hits back at claims he risks rift with China by becoming first president-elect to speak to regime in 37 YEARS
President-elect Donald Trump accepted a call from Taiwan’s Tsai Ing-wen
It is first official contact between US and Taiwanese officials for 37 years
The US severed ties in 1979 and sided with Beijing’s ‘One China’ position
It states that Taiwan is Chinese territory and not an independent nation
US has not recognized any Taiwanese leader as a head of state ever since
Trump argued it was hypocritical to shun the island while selling it arms
His call with its leader is likely to enrage Chinese officials who previously threatened military tactics if Taiwan sought independence
By JENNIFER SMITH
DAILYMAIL.COM
3 December 2016
Donald Trump has defended his historic phone call with the president of Taiwan after critics claimed it risked a diplomatic crisis with China.
The president-elect received a phone call from Taiwan’s Tsai Ing-wen on Friday, becoming the first president or president-elect to speak directly to the regime in 37 years.
Trump’s opponents were quick to claim it risked angering Beijing by seemingly disregarding decades of protocol built on America’s acknowledgment of the ‘One China’ policy.
The policy holds that Washington, while maintaining unofficial relations with Taiwan, does not recognize it as its own nation and therefore does not acknowledge its leaders as heads of state.
The dispute between Taiwan and Beijing began when the losing side of China’s 1949 Civil War fled to the island and continued to declare itself the rightful rulers of China. Military tensions have existed between the communist regime and Taipei ever since.
Defending his phone call, Trump said: ‘Interesting how the U.S. sells Taiwan billions of dollars of military equipment but I should not accept a congratulatory call.’
The Rest…HERE
