Friday, December 2, 2016

CHINA WILL GO NUTS: Trump Calls Taiwan

I have no idea of where to put this on the scale between recognition of separatist efforts and insanity.

FT reports:
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-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.

The Trump team did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

“The Chinese leadership will see this as a highly provocative action, of historic proportions,” said Evan Medeiros, former Asia director at the White House national security council.

“Regardless if it was deliberate or accidental, 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.”

Like the Israel settlement question, the U.S. should really stay out of this stuff. If Trump makes clear that he just wants to be a good friend to all nations that is fine, but if he doesn't make this absolutely clear to China it is remarkably provocative.

-RW

UPDATE

A neocon cheers Trump for his Twain move because he sees it as dissing China!
UPDATE 2

SEE:  Was a Dick Cheney Aide Responsible for Trump's Telephone Talk With Taiwan?

8 comments:

  1. Does Trump have anyone in his transition team that understands the signal China was sending when President Obama and his delegation were treated with complete disrespect by their Chinese hosts on his last visit to China less than 90 days ago? China signaled to the U.S. that they were furious over our military's provocative actions near the islands they are transforming into military installations. It looks like the loose cannon we know as Donald Trump has been taking the advice of the warrior monk, Mad Dog Mattis.

    It looks like the Trump fan boys seriously misread Trumps signals about wanting to rebuild the U.S. military and make it the most powerful military in the world. He was speaking in code generally, but he was rather specific concerning Iran. The Trump fan boys don't seem to understand that once a country is put on the hit list, it very rarely escapes termination with extreme prejudice.

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  2. Don't worry the Communist Chinese venerated Kissinger will explain it away.

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  3. This is a negotiating strategy, everything is on the table with the new administration, why not invite more folks to the party.

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    1. You are utterly daft, or you are a paid troll!

      Kissinger may have once acted as a deft go between, but that was 44 years ago, and he can only escape death for so long on his rumored regimen of infusions of youthful blood to keep him among the living. Besides who would want to take advise from a spoon fed warmonger who is responsible for god only knows how many deaths.

      I can not remember a transition period where an incoming administration made it abundantly clear their lust for unwarranted confrontation, over a matter that was settled by both parties over 37 years ago. This needless provocation on Donald Trump's part can not simply be made right by claiming it was a misunderstanding. The Chinese government for better or worse has an extremely long memory, and trust me they still remember our actions toward them over 100 years ago. The Chinese will never forgive Trump for bringing a flame thrower to a meet and greet conversation.

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  4. Taiwan is a democratic sovereign state and as such should be protected by the USA. The main people who will dislike this are the multinationals like Apple and the elitists. China is not a democracy and has been given far too much of a free reign by the political elite. China owes the USA big-time for WW2 and yet has fought against the USA since WW2. It is time to re-calibrate the relationship with China in order to prevent its further expansionist policies such as in the South China Sea. The USA is the world's policeman and has only ever fought tyrants and despots during and since WW2. Taiwan deserves the respect and diplomatic assistance of the USA because it is a successful democracy and a peaceful nation that observes human rights. Why should anyone other than China object to that? It is more likely to prevent conflict in the long term than it is to cause conflict. In any case, as a corollary, the USA could be offended by China's relationship with Cuba. Brian

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  5. By all means cower before Red China which holds significant assets in US dollar denominated assets, many direct obligations of the USG, and counts on exporting yuuge value of goods to the good ol USA. We don't have the leverage to make a peep. No sir. If they say, ypou a soverign nation, do not talk to another nation, lets follow their orders.

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  6. Where is china going to sell all their goods if not here? Where are we going to get so many of our products if not china? This is much ado about nothing. Feigned offenses. The south china sea situation is far more dangerous than this.

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