NEW YORK
(AP) -- President-elect Donald Trump spoke Friday with the president
of Taiwan, a move that will be sure to anger China.
It
is highly unusual, probably unprecedented, for a U.S. president or
president-elect to speak directly with a leader of Taiwan, a
self-governing island the U.S. broke diplomatic ties with in 1979.
Washington
has pursued a so-called "one China" policy since 1979, when it shifted
diplomatic recognition of China from the government in Taiwan to the
communist government on the mainland. Under that policy, the U.S.
recognizes Beijing as representing China but retains unofficial ties
with Taiwan.
A statement from Trump's
transition team said he spoke with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, who
offered her congratulations. It was not clear who initiated the call.
"During
the discussion, they noted the close economic, political, and security
ties ... between Taiwan and the United States. President-elect Trump
also congratulated President Tsai on becoming President of Taiwan
earlier this year," the statement said.
A
Taiwanese source with direct knowledge of the call confirmed it had
taken place. The source requested anonymity to speak about it before an
official statement was issued on it from Taipei.
The
White House learned of the conversation after it had taken place, said a
senior Obama administration official, who requested anonymity because
of the sensitive diplomatic relations involved.
China's embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Friday's
call is the most stark example yet of how Trump has flouted diplomatic
conventions since he won the Nov. 8 election. He has apparently
undertaken calls with foreign leaders without guidance customarily lent
by the State Department, which oversees U.S. diplomacy.
Over
the decades, the status of Taiwan has been one of the most sensitive
issues in U.S.-China relations.
China regards Taiwan as part of its
territory to be retaken by force, if necessary, if it seeks
independence. It would regard any recognition of a Taiwanese leader as a
head of state as unacceptable.
Taiwan split
from the Chinese mainland amid civil war in 1949. The U.S. policy
acknowledges the Chinese view over sovereignty, but considers Taiwan's
status as unsettled.
Although the U.S. does
not have formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, it has close unofficial
ties. Taiwan's government has a representative office in Washington and
other U.S. cities. The U.S. also has legal commitments to help Taiwan
maintain the ability to defend itself.
Ned
Price, a spokesman for the White House National Security Council, said
Trump's conversation does not signal any change to long-standing U.S.
policy on "cross-strait" issues.
"We remain
firmly committed to our 'one China' policy," Price said. "Our
fundamental interest is in peaceful and stable cross-strait relations."
Tsai
was democratically elected in January and took office in May. The
traditional independence-leaning policies of her party have strained
relations with Beijing.
Diplomatic protocol dictates that Taiwanese presidents can transit through the U.S. but not visit Washington.
Douglas
Paal, who served as head of the American Institute in Taiwan during the
George W. Bush administration, said that to his knowledge the call was
unprecedented. He said he expected Beijing to issue a verbal warning
that there's no space to change the rules over Taiwan relations.
