China’s response to Trump’s phone call with Taiwan

China views Taiwan as a breakaway province and has always been hypersensitive to any quiver in its standing in the world, and especially its ties to the United States. Trump raised the issue during the campaign and referred to China’s fortified man-made islands in his tweet, saying Beijing didn’t ask the US if it was OK to “build a massive military complex in the South China Sea”.

The 10-minute conversation with President Tsai Ing-wen, which Trump described as a congratulatory call, was the first time a United States president has spoken to Taiwan’s leader since Washington established diplomatic relations with Beijing in 1979.

Top Trump aide Kellyanne Conway said on several of the Sunday morning talk shows that it was “just a phone call” and Trump is “well aware” of US policy toward China.

“Trump might be looking for some opportunities by making waves”, the Global Times said in a Monday editorial headlined, “Talk to Trump, punish Tsai administration”. Chinese President Xi Jinping recently told Kuomintang party officials from Taiwan, “The Communist Party would be overthrown by the people if the pro-independence issue was not dealt with”.

PLA air force spokesman Shen Jinke said in September that its aircraft would make regular flights beyond the so-called “First Island Chain”, a line stretching from Japan and Taiwan which China says has been used by the United States to contain it since the cold war. The island counts the U.S.as its most important security partner and source of arms, but it is increasingly outgunned by China. Chinese President Xi Jinping, however, has warned that the issue of unification can not be put off indefinitely. Pence said he spoke with Jordan’s King Abdullah on Saturday.

Why should the US stand aside as the PRC continues to threaten Taiwan and meddle in Taiwanese affairs?

Chen Chun-hao, a 43-year-old designer, said Trump might “bring more help” to Taiwan now that both sides had opened a dialogue.

“As an ordinary citizen, I’m very excited by the news”, said Yung-chiang (John) Chi, a counselor on home assignment with the Department of International Information Services.

Weeks before taking office, the incoming American president is riling Beijing with confrontation and online statements that appear to foreshadow a tougher foreign policy toward China. “The diplomatic policy may be flexible after he takes office”.

Donald Trump’s dispute with China over Taiwan has refocused attention on his combative approach to Beijing.

The work by Dole, a former Senate Republican leader and the 1996 Republican presidential nominee, was disclosed in documents filed November 30 with the Justice Department’s Foreign Agent Registration Act section.

“The phone call was a way for us to express our respect for the USA election, as well as congratulate President-Elect Trump on his win”, Tsai said during a meeting with a select group of American journalists at the Presidential Office Building. “President-elect Trump also congratulated President Tsai on becoming President of Taiwan earlier this year”, the statement said. “We hope America abides by the principle of the One China policy and the three US-PRC Joint Communiques and does not allow her transit”.

The President-elect had also called Mr. Sharif as “terrific” and Pakistanis “are one of the most intelligent people”, according to the Pakistani readout which added that Mr. Trump said he “is ready and willing to play any role that you want me to play to address and find solutions to the outstanding problems”.

“The president is looking forward to strengthening bilateral interactions and contacts as well as setting up closer cooperative relations” with the U.S., the statement said.

“Beijing will watch closely to see which it is”, said Paal, now vice president for studies at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

“It’s fair to say that we may have had some influence”, Dole told The Journal.

China’s reaction was relatively low-key and seemed to offer Mr Trump a face-saving way out of an apparent blunder by blaming the Taiwanese side. Some US conservatives, however, see no evil in the Friday call.