U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday he would speak with Taiwan President Lai Ching-te, a rare direct contact that could test U.S.-China relations if it takes place, according to Reuters.
“I’ll speak to him. I speak to everybody,” Trump told reporters when asked about Lai, Reuters reported. Trump also said the United States would work on what he called the “Taiwan problem.”
At the time of this report, no call had been set.
In 1979, the United States switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing. No sitting U.S. president has spoken directly with a president of Taiwan since then, Reuters said.
Trump spoke by phone with Taiwan’s then-president Tsai Ing-wen after his election in December 2016 but before taking office. That prompted China to summon the U.S. ambassador in a diplomatic protest.
Taiwan’s foreign ministry said Thursday Lai would be happy to speak to Trump. “If I have the opportunity to speak to him, I would tell Trump that China is destroying peace and the future of Taiwan should not be in the hands of outside powers,” Lai said.
China considers Taiwan part of its territory and has not ruled out the use of force to bring the island under its control. Beijing condemns US-Taiwan leader meetings.
The United States has no official diplomatic ties with Taiwan but maintains unofficial relations. Congress passed the Taiwan Relations Act in 1979 under which Washington promised to help Taiwan develop “an adequate self-defense capability” by providing it with defense articles and services.
Trump’s comment followed a meeting earlier this month with Chinese President Xi Jinping that covered a host of issues, including Taiwan. Xi warned Trump during their meeting that the US and China could clash over the Taiwan issue if he does not handle it properly.
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