First US-Taiwanese presidential contact since diplomatic relations were cut in 1979

[brooklynite]

Source: Financial Times

Donald Trump risks opening up a major diplomatic dispute with China before he has even been inaugurated after speaking on the phone on Friday with Tsai Ying-wen, the president of Taiwan.

The telephone call, confirmed by three people, is believed to be the first between a US president or president-elect and a leader of Taiwan since diplomatic relations between the two were cut in 1979.

Although it is not clear if the Trump transition team intended the conversation to signal a broader change in US policy towards Taiwan, the call is likely to infuriate Beijing which regards the island as a renegade province.

The US has adopted the so-called “One China” policy since 1972 after the Nixon-Mao meetings and in 1978 President Jimmy Carter formally recognised Beijing as the sole government of China, with the US embassy closing in Taipei the year after.

Read more: https://www.ft.com/content/fd19907e-b8d4-11e6-961e-a1acd97f622d

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Maybe if she's ever in town, they'll go out for Chinese food...

[TuslaUltra]

1. how dumb is this guy? Honestly, that mistake is juvenile

[sdfernando]

3. Captain Carotene is so stupid and inexperienced as his is so called staff...

that he doesn't know the difference...he just hear "China"

Gonna be a fun 4-years

[DesertRat]

2. DT is not seeking advisement and doesn't know what he's doing!

In a single day, Trump has invited Duterte to DC and potentially angered China by calling Taiwan. And he's still weeks away from inauguration.

[truthisfreedom]

4. Perfect. He's going to fuck up our relationships with every single major manufacturing country in

the world, all the places we depend on for stability. Trump's fucking nuts. He's not inaugurated yet. Why is anyone letting him do this?

WHY DID THEY EVEN SHARE THE PHONE NUMBERS WITH SOMEONE WHO HASN'T OFFICIALLY BECOME PRESIDENT?

[DesertRat]

5. That's a good question about the contact numbers

I wonder from where he's calling and if he's even using a secure line? This guy is going to cause worldwide chaos.

[dhol82]

6. Yeah - he's using that secure line that goes through Moscow.

[scscholar]

7. So if he supports a renegade province...

will he support California if they leave?

[Bleacher Creature]

8. His company is trying to open RESORTS in Taiwan.

Presidents get to take hard lines with other countries, but they can't do it as a means of furthering their personal finances.

This is getting out of control.

[TheCowsCameHome]

9. Wherever he can get his cheap fucking hats produced.

[Recursion]

10. WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK!!!??? (nt)

[OKNancy]

11. Bet the Chinese know he is a dumbass and this is not a real policy change

but they will pretend to be outraged.

[riversedge]

12. #MinorityPresident looks to build some luxery resorts in Tiawan....

tweet
Adam Jentleson ‏@AJentleson 9m9 minutes ago

The entire world is now at the mercy of Trump's personal profit motive.

If it makes him money, he'll do it.

:large

[christx30]

13. To be fair, China is outraged

any time someone doesn't kowtow to them. The Dalai Lama shows up and is hosted by a US president? China complains. Someone even breathes a word that, maybe, the Chinese occupation of Tibet isn't the best thing in the world, China complains.
In other words, screw China. If Taiwan wanted to be part of them, they would be. Not everyone wants to be communist.

#selfdetermination

[philosslayer]

14. So you're in favor of this madness?

[christx30]

15. I haven't heard from you in a while. How you been?

You're in favor of forcing a people to be part of a country they don't want to be?
Maybe I'm just biased, being from a country that was founded by forcefully breaking away from a foreign power through a war.
I don't support Trump in any way. But I support any province that China conquered that wants to break away from China.

[philosslayer]

16. The diplomatic community is aghast

Senator Murray said actions like this could eventually result in war. I think we should appease the Chinese at all costs.

[christx30]

17. They can clutch their pearls all they want

but lets face it: China is not a good partner at all. If France had cared about its relationship with Britain than it cared about personal liberty in 1778, we wouldn't have a country.
Taiwan does not want to be a part of China. They want to be separate. The only reason they haven't pushed for full independence is because they are woefully outnumbered and outgunned. Might makes right in this case, I guess.

I don't advocate a revolutionary war at all. But US politicians should be able to meet with anyone they want without China sticking it's nose in and bitching. If the President-elect wants to speak with Taiwan, or someone wants to host an award dinner with the Dalai Lama, what business is it of China's?

I think a tougher stance on China with regards to human rights would be a good thing. Some people are OK with being under Beijing's thumb. But not everyone is. Conditions in Tibet are terrible for native Tibetans. Monks burn themselves alive in protest conditions there. Their culture is being erased. But that's probably ok with you, as long as you can buy cheap shit at Walmart. After all, China did conquer them fair and square.

[Calista241]

22. And getting the Phillipines on our side isn't such a terrible idea

With the Chinese trying to annex the entire South China Sea (which come right up against Phillipine territorial waters).

[sarcasmo]

18. President-elect Gump, be thy name.

[duffyduff]

19. What a damned disaster.

The EC NEEDS to deny him and Pence the White House. The future of the country--the world--depends on it.

[Skittles]

20. if they had any sense, that is exactly what they should do

this is a disaster

[KewlKat]

21. how can this man be allowed to lead our nation.......TOTAL EFFING DISASTER.

WHERE ARE HIS HANDLERS? Will any of us survive this nightmare? It gets worse each day.