Beyond president-elect Donald Trump breaking tradition as being the first reality star to become U.S. president, Trump broke tradition once again during his first White House visit by denying press access. And now, Trump displays his cavalier attitude again by engaging in a phone call with the president of Taiwan, something that hasn’t been done by a U.S. president or president-elect since 1979, reportedThe Hill.
Trump’s transition team said Trump spoke with Taiwan’s president Tsai Ying-wen Friday. First reported by The Financial Times, the conversation included Ying-wen congratulating Trump as well as both leaders discussing “close economic, political, and security ties exists between Taiwan and the United States.”
The White House said it didn’t receive notice of the phone call with Taiwan and Ned Price, a spokesman for the National Security Council said, “There is no change to our longstanding policy on cross-Strait issues. Our fundamental interest is in peaceful and stable cross-Strait relations.” The one-China policy between the U.S. and Taiwan doesn’t allow for official relations between the two.
Trump tweeted about the phone call today clarifying Taiwan’s Ying-wen initiated the conversation.
And in a later tweet the president-elect clapped back at the haters saying he shouldn't have spoken to the Taiwan leader.
China’s state-run CCTV has already responded to the call in a statement reported by CNN: "There is no immediate reaction from the Chinese government to this call. The Mainland says it firmly opposes official contact in any form between Washington and Taipei."
In a new update by the Associated Press, China's foreign minister hopes Beijing's relations with the U.S. won't be "interfered with or damaged" after Trump spoke directly with Taiwan's leader. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi adds the call between Tsai Ying-wen and Trump was "just a small trick by Taiwan." He believes it would not change longstanding U.S. policy towards China.
Despite Trump’s previous negative relationship with China (he blamed China for global warming and throughout his campaign said he was bringing back jobs from China) Trump spoke to Chinese President Xi Jinping after the election and was even congratulated by Xi for winning. According to Trump's transition team the leaders "established a clear sense of mutual respect for one another."
