Taiwan’s call to Trump ‘a gimmick’

China dismisses phone chat

Washington –– China has dismissed a Friday phone call between President-elect Donald Trump and Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen as a “gimmick” by the island it considers a renegade province.

“This was a gimmick pulled off by Taiwan, and it won’t stand a chance to change the one China structure agreed upon in the international community,” China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi told Hong Kong-based Phoenix TV. “The one China principle is the foundation for the healthy development of the Sino-U.S. relations, and we don’t want to see this political foundation disturbed and damaged.”

Trump’s transition team sent a statement saying Tsai congratulated Trump on his victory and the two “noted the close economic, political and security ties” between the U.S. and Taiwan. The statement didn’t indicate if the call presaged a shift in long-standing U.S. policy against recognizing Taiwan’s sovereignty or allowing direct communication between top leaders.

“The President of Taiwan CALLED ME today to wish me congratulations on winning the Presidency. Thank you!,” Trump posted on Twitter. “Interesting how the U.S. sells Taiwan billions of dollars of military equipment but I should not accept a congratulatory call.”

The call carried the potential to develop into the first major foreign policy incident confronting Trump as he prepares to take office Jan. 20. The U.S. broke diplomatic ties with Taiwan in 1979 when it recognized the government in Beijing. The U.S. has maintained a close relationship with the island –– often to China’s anger –– in the years since.

“The Chinese will not take this as an indication of policy, but it will make them concerned and they will seek to provide some education to the incoming team,” said Bonnie Glaser, senior adviser for Asia at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.