Donald Trump upsets China: Breaks from tradition, speaks with Taiwanese President
US President-elect Donald Trump spoke with Taiwanese President over the telephone on Friday- a move likely to cause rift with China.
In Short
- Trump, on Friday, spoke with Taiwanese President.
- This came as a shock as no US President has spoken to Taiwanese leaders since 1979.
- Move likely to upset China, it considers Taiwan part of 'One China' vision.
According to the news reports rapidly flooding the global media, the US President-elect Donald Trump has spoken with the Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen over the telephone on Friday.
It is a departure of mammoth proportion from the established practice where it is believed that no US President or President-elect has ever spoken to a Taiwanese President ever since the US severed its diplomatic ties with the island nation in 1979.
China is bound to be furious over it as it considers Taiwan a part of its 'One China' vision and doesn't take any move lightly that questions its right over the patches of territories it claims.
The world sees how China angrily reacts on Dalai Lama's global outreach efforts for Tibet or when it issues stapled visa to Arunachal Pradesh residents in India as it considers Arunachal its own territory.
ALSO READ | Non-committal Trump may push China to work with India in fighting climate change
HOW WILL CHINA REACT?
The Financial Times which first reported about the call wrote, "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."
But in geopolitics, nothing is seen as by chance, as the Financial Times report further says, quoting Evan Medeiros, former Asia Director, White House National Security Council that 'the Chinese leadership will see this as a highly provocative action, of historic proportions'.
According to a report in the New York Times, the White House was informed about the call only after it had happened. The report further says, quoting an Obama administration official that in past China had reacted bitterly on US arms sales to Taiwan.
Let us wait and see how China reacts this time.
Also Read:
Donald Trump bonds with Nawaz Sharif bigly, it's bromantic, so fantastic
In phone call, China's Xi tells Trump cooperation is only choice
Modi congratulates Trump, here's what his win could mean for India