Trump Again Says He Will Talk to Taiwan’s Leader, Risking China’s Anger
The New York Times • • general
Key Points:
- President Trump announced plans to speak with Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te, a move that would break decades of U.S. diplomatic norms and likely provoke retaliation from China.
- Taiwan’s foreign ministry welcomed the prospect of a call, though Lai’s office has not yet received any communication from the U.S. regarding such contact.
- China strongly opposes any official exchanges or arms sales to Taiwan, viewing them as provocations that threaten its territorial claims and could harm U.S.-China relations.
- No sitting U.S. president has directly spoken with a Taiwanese president since 1979, making Trump’s intention a significant departure from longstanding policy.
- Trump described the proposed arms sale as a “negotiating chip” during his recent summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, raising questions about the consistency of U.S. support for Taiwan.