CNN reports:
China’s foreign ministry said Saturday it has lodged a complaint with the United States over a controversial phone call between President-elect Donald Trump and Taiwan’s President that has overturned decades of diplomatic protocol.China views Taiwan as a renegade province and, since 1979, the US has acknowledged Beijing’s claim that Taiwan is part of China, with US-China relations governed by a set of protocols known as the ‘one China’ policy.This means there are no formal diplomatic relations between the United States and Taiwan — so Trump’s decision to take Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen’s call could risk a major upset. “We have noticed relevant reports and lodged solemn representation with the relevant side in the United States,” said a statement Saturday from China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang.“I must point out that there is only one China in the world and Taiwan is an inseparable part of the Chinese territory … The ‘one China’ principle is the political foundation of China-US relations. We urge the relevant side in the US to adhere to the ‘one China’ policy, abide by the pledges in the three joint China-US communiques, and handle issues related to Taiwan carefully and properly to avoid causing unnecessary interference to the overall China-U.S. relationship.”
More from NBC News:
The conversation represented a stark break in U.S. foreign policy. The U.S. has not had diplomatic relations with Taiwan since 1979, when it recognized the People’s Republic of China as sole legal government. China sees Taiwan as a breakaway province and the two have nearly gone to war three times since 1949.The call was one of a series of talks with controversial global figures — including some from countries that are considered in China’s direct sphere of influence such as Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte. According to State Department officials, the president-elect was not briefed by the agency ahead of his call to the Philippines president nor before any of his calls to world leaders since his election.Kellyanne Conway, who managed the Republican’s campaign and is one of the president-elect’s top advisers, came to Trump’s defense Friday. “President-elect Trump is fully briefed and fully knowledgeable about these issues … regardless of who is on the other end of the phone,” she told CNN.Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the White House’s National Security Council, said that the administration remains “firmly committed to our ‘one China’ policy.” “There is no change to our longstanding policy on cross-Strait issues,” spokesman Ned Price said Friday.
The President of Taiwan CALLED ME today to wish me congratulations on winning the Presidency. Thank you!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 3, 2016
Interesting how the U.S. sells Taiwan billions of dollars of military equipment but I should not accept a congratulatory call.— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 3, 2016
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