Trump Agrees To Honor “One China” Policy

The one China policy is a view that there is only one state called China, even though two countries now claim the same name. The nationalistic tabloid the Global Times went one step further, threatening that if the “naive” Trump pulls back from the “one China” policy, then Beijing could “offer support, even military assistance to USA foes”. But, for now at least, the American government will recognize one, and only one, government of China, and its President Xi. “This has led to a special type of balance in East Asia, especially in areas around China, where China’s strength and resolution to defend its core interests matches with that of the USA”. It was a very, very warm conversation. The US also continues to provide substantial military aid to Taiwan annually. “It was a long talk.”.

The phone call with Xi came on the eve of a summit between Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

A readout of the call from the White House also said representatives of the USA and China will engage in discussions and negotiations on various issues of mutual interest. The two leaders exchanged state visit invitations in a sign of improving ties.

In a statement by China’s Foreign Ministry, Xi said China appreciated Trump’s upholding of the policy.

China responded with concern, saying that the policy was instrumental to any trade deals with the US.

Yuan Zheng, a senior researcher on USA foreign policy at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, noted that Trump had met or called leaders of many other major countries recently in the new year before he wrote to Xi, and the belated greeting itself will serve its goal. China and the United States are two dominant global players and the world can ill-afford any tension or conflict between them.

In tweets since his election win, Trump has questioned the One-China policy which acknowledges China and Taiwan are part of the one country – and is seen as a no-go area by Beijing.

The US has also inflamed the issue of sovereignty in the South China Sea by vowing to defend “international territories” in the strategic waterway. He suggested that the U.S. should block access to artificial islands China is building in disputed waters.

February 8: Apparently uneasy over Xi shutting him out, Trump finally sends Xi a letter wishing him a happy Chinese New Year.

Mr Trump’s December stumble prompted a diplomatic protest from Beijing.

The New York Time reports that it was hand-delivered to China’s ambassador by National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, who had also spoken to China’s top foreign policy official last week.

The paper did not make reference to the Thursday evening call in the early edition of Friday’s newspaper, but later added the White House’s announcement to the online story.