This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/donald-trump-taiwan-taiwan-conflict-a7453411.html

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Donald Trump called Taiwan president, causing worries of conflict with China Donald Trump claims Taiwan president called him amid fears of sparking conflict with China
(about 1 hour later)
President-elect Donald Trump held a phone call with Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, which raises major concerns for the diplomatic relationship between China and the US. President-elect Donald Trump held a phone call with Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, which raises major concerns for the diplomatic relationship between China and the US. 
Shortly after reports broke about the call, Mr Trump issued a tweet saying that Ms Tsai called him – a still unconfirmed claim. 
"The President of Taiwan CALLED ME today to wish me congratulations on winning the Presidency. Thank you!" he tweeted.
It is not clear whether what Mr Trump tweeted is, in fact, true. Since his election, he has sent out numerous false, misleading tweets about voter fraud, saving jobs at a Ford plant in Kentucky, and the press.
The Trump transition team confirmed that the two spoke in a statement, but did not disclose who called whom.
"President-elect trump spoke with President Tsai Ing-wen, who offered her congratulations," they wrote. "During the discussion, they noted the close economic, political, and security ties [that] exist between Taiwan and the United States. President-elect Trump also congratulated President Tsai on becoming President of Taiwan earlier this year."
The US cut diplomatic ties with Taiwan in 1979, as Beijing views the country as a breakaway state. The US cut diplomatic ties with Taiwan in 1979, as Beijing views the country as a breakaway state. 
Financial Times reported that the call was confirmed the Trump transition team. They said that Mr Trum and Ms Tsai "noted the close economic, political, and security ties" between the US and Taiwan.
But it is not clear whether the New York businessman intended to signify a change in US diplomacy. Regardless of Mr Trump's true intentions, the act is likely to provoke a response from China. But it is not clear whether the New York businessman intended to signify a change in US diplomacy. Regardless of Mr Trump's true intentions, the act is likely to provoke a response from China. 
"The Chinese leadership will see this as a highly provocative action, of historic proportions," former Asia director at the White House national security council, Evan Medeiros, told the Financial Times. "The Chinese leadership will see this as a highly provocative action, of historic proportions," former Asia director at the White House national security council, Evan Medeiros, told the Financial Times. 
"Regardless if it was deliberate or accidential," he added, "this phone call will fundamentally change China's perceptions of Trump's strategic intentions for the negative. "Regardless if it was deliberate or accidential," he added, "this phone call will fundamentally change China's perceptions of Trump's strategic intentions for the negative. 
"With this kind of move, Trump is setting a foundation of enduring mistrust and strategic competition for US-China relations.""With this kind of move, Trump is setting a foundation of enduring mistrust and strategic competition for US-China relations."
The US first adopted the "One China" policy in 1972 following meetings between then President Richard Nixon and Chairman Mao Zedong. The agreement was finally solidified by Jimmy Carter in 1978. The US first adopted the "One China" policy in 1972 following meetings between then President Richard Nixon and Chairman Mao Zedong. The agreement was finally solidified by Jimmy Carter in 1978. 
"[I]t would be a mistake for Beijing and others to over-interpret the meaning of a phone call between President-elect Trump and the President of Taiwan," former Bush White House Asia adviser, Dennis Wilder, said. "[I]t would be a mistake for Beijing and others to over-interpret the meaning of a phone call between President-elect Trump and the President of Taiwan," former Bush White House Asia adviser, Dennis Wilder, said. 
He continued: Mr Trump is "not steeped in the diplomatic history of US-China relations and probably has not been briefed by the Department of State on the US-China understandings on our unofficial ties to Taiwan. ... He continued: Mr Trump is "not steeped in the diplomatic history of US-China relations and probably has not been briefed by the Department of State on the US-China understandings on our unofficial ties to Taiwan. ... 
"We are in uncharted territory with Trump foreign policy, and nations should give him some latitude as he forms his foreign policy team.""We are in uncharted territory with Trump foreign policy, and nations should give him some latitude as he forms his foreign policy team."
Throughout his campaign, Mr Trump had been overtly critical of US policies with China. Throughout his campaign, Mr Trump had been overtly critical of US policies with China. 
"We can't continue to allow China to rape our country," he said at a campaign rally in May."We can't continue to allow China to rape our country," he said at a campaign rally in May.
Mr Trump's call with Ms Tsai comes only hours after China foreign ministry spokesperson's remarks of a new defence spending bill that suggests the US conduct military exchanges with Taiwan. Mr Trump's call with Ms Tsai comes only hours after China foreign ministry spokesperson's remarks of a new defence spending bill that suggests the US conduct military exchanges with Taiwan. 
"China firmly opposes the United States and Taiwan carrying out any form of official contact or military exchange," Mr Geng said, as he urged the US to "scrupulously abide" by decades-old policy or risk damaging relations between the two countries."China firmly opposes the United States and Taiwan carrying out any form of official contact or military exchange," Mr Geng said, as he urged the US to "scrupulously abide" by decades-old policy or risk damaging relations between the two countries.