President Trump’s Call to Taiwan Sparks China’s Frown

The U. S. president announced he would speak with Taiwan’s leader, a first for any American chief executive. This move could strain U. S. –China ties and trigger more military drills near the island. Taiwan welcomed the idea, but no time was set. China warned that such a call would send “wrong signals” to those pushing for independence. China sees Taiwan as part of its territory, a relic of the civil war when the Republic of China retreated to the island in 1949. Beijing calls Taiwan a province and has never ruled out force, even while saying it prefers peaceful reunification. The island’s status is a “core interest” and a red line for China. When U. S. leaders have engaged with Taipei, China has responded with large-scale war games and diplomatic protests. In December, the U. S. approved a record $11 billion arms sale to Taiwan, followed by Chinese military exercises.Taiwan describes itself as a democratic nation called the Republic of China and rejects Beijing’s claims. Its president has offered talks to China, which Beijing dismisses as separatist. The U. S. maintains unofficial relations with Taiwan under the Taiwan Relations Act, which obliges it to supply defense equipment but does not recognize Taiwan as a sovereign state. The U. S. also keeps the “One China” policy, leaving its stance on Taiwan’s independence ambiguous. China has repeatedly asked Washington to stop selling weapons to Taipei, a demand the U. S. ignores. In 2016, former President Trump’s brief call with Taiwan’s president caused only a mild diplomatic protest from Beijing.