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Donald Trump speaks directly to Taiwan's Tsai Ing-wen

Donald Trump speaks directly to Taiwan's Tsai Ing-wen

President-elect speaks with Taiwan's president in a break from the US' "one China" policy.

The call comes at a time of worsened Taiwan-China relations since the election of Tsai earlier this year [EPA]

US President-elect Donald Trump has spoken with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, a move that is likely to infuriate China and complicate US relations with Beijing.
During Friday's discussion, Trump and Tsai noted "the close economic, political and security ties" between Taiwan and the United States, according to the president-elect's transition team.

"President-elect Trump also congratulated President Tsai on becoming president of Taiwan earlier this year," it said.

The call was the first such contact with Taiwan by a US president-elect or president since President Jimmy Carter adopted a one-China policy in 1979. As part of its so-called "one China" policy Washington shifted diplomatic recognition of China from the government in Taiwan to the communist government on the mainland.

Under that policy, the US recognises Beijing as representing China but retains unofficial ties with Taiwan. Washington is Taiwan's most important political ally and sole arms supplier, despite the lack of formal diplomatic ties.

Al Jazeera's Adrian Brown, reporting from Beijing, said that the response from the Chinese government was swift. "A spokesperson said China opposes any official contact or military interactions between the US and Taiwan.

"It is not what was said that will upset China, but the symbolism of the US president-elect directly speaking to the Taiwanese leader," he said.

Defending the move

As he came under fire for the move, Trump defended the contact on Twitter.

He first tweeted that Tsai initiated the call, one of several he has had with world leaders in recent days, and brushed off criticism for speaking directly with the leader.

"Interesting how the US sells Taiwan billions of dollars of military equipment but I should not accept a congratulatory call," Trump wrote in a second tweet sent an hour after the first one.

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi Wang said that the so-called "one-China policy" is the cornerstone of US-China relations and that Beijing hoped that foundation would not be "interfered with or damaged" by Trump's move.

China views Taiwan as a renegade province.

During the election campaign, Trump referred to China as a currency manipulator and accused Beijing of raping the US economy.

The White House responded to the call by saying that "longstanding policy" on China and Taiwan has not changed.

"We remain firmly committed to our 'one China' policy," said Ned Price, a national security spokesman for President Barack Obama. "Our fundamental interest is in peaceful and stable cross-Strait relations."

The call comes at a time of worsened Taiwan-China relations since the election of Tsai's pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) earlier this year.

Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke by telephone on November 14. Xi stressed that cooperation was the only choice for relations between the world's two largest economies, and Trump said that the two had established a "clear sense of mutual respect".

Source: Al Jazeera News and Agencies

India Will welcome if US-Pak talk on terror:

India Will welcome if US-Pak talk on terror:


India today downplayed reports of US President-elect Donald Trump lavishing praise on Nawaz Sharif during a telephonic conversation but said it will welcome US-Pakistan talks to resolve the “issue of cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan.”

New Delhi, Publish Date: Dec 1 2016 11:32PM | Updated Date: Dec 1 2016 11:32PM

Will welcome if US-Pak talk on terror: India

"I will reserve my judgement. We have seen only one side of the conversation. And that conversation does talk about the US President-elect willing to resolve all outstanding issues of Pakistan. We believe that the most outstanding issue of the outstanding issues is Pakistan's continued support to terrorism.

"To that extent, we will welcome a dialogue between the US and Pakistan to resolve that issue," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson VikasSwarup said.

 CONTINUED TERROR CANNOT BE ‘NEW NORMAL:’

 Earlier, talking tough in the wake of attack on an army camp in Nagrota, India today made it clear that talks with Pakistan cannot take place in an atmosphere of "continued terror", which it will never accept as "new normal" in the bilateral relationship.

External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson VikasSwarup also said the government is awaiting detailed information on the specifics of the Nagrota attack before it decides on the next steps.

"But I do wish to emphasise that the government takes this incident very seriously and will do what it feels is required for our national security," he asserted.

Asked if there would be bilateral talks on the sidelines of the Heart of Asia (HoA) Conference in Amritsar on December 3 and 4, he said, "We have not received any request from Pakistan for a bilateral meeting.

"India has always been open to talks but obviously it cannot be that talks take place in an atmosphere of continued terrorism. India will never accept continued terrorism as the new normal in the bilateral relationship," Swarup said.

India's sharp remarks come two days ahead of the conference where Pakistan will be represented by Sartaj Aziz, Foreign Affairs Advisor to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Earlier, Pakistani media reports had quoted officials as having said there would not be a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the HoA meet on Afghanistan.

Prime Minister NarendraModi and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani will jointly inaugurate the ministerial deliberations on Sunday where the Indian delegation will be led by Finance Minister ArunJaitley in the absence of External Affairs Minister SushmaSwaraj, who is ill.

Hitting out at Pakistan, Swarup said Pakistan is a country which has a long record of carrying out cross border terrorism which it regards as an instrument of state policy and which puts Islamabad at odds with the rest of the international community.

On the criticism that the attacks increased after the surgical strikes, he said, "It was our assessment at that point of time that there was an imminent threat based on hard intelligence about the location of armed terrorists who were ready to infiltrate from across the LoC and carry out terrorist activities on our side.

"This imminent threat was successfully neutralised through the surgical strikes. We should not look only at what happened but also at what did not happen, what was prevented through successful neutralisation of terrorists."

On the appointment of Pakistan's new army chief, he said it is an internal matter of Pakistan. India will judge Pakistan by its behaviour and its track record and not by change of persons, he added.

On Pakistan suggesting a joint probe in Uri strike, which India maintains was carried out by Pakistan-based militants, Swarup said this has happened in past also and instead of acting on the evidence provided by India, Islamabad engages in "pure propaganda ploys".

"Pakistan called for an international inquiry, we said we are happy even with their domestic inquiry. When we are giving you fingerprints, DNA of the terrorists who we believe came from Pakistan, why Pakistan cannot match this with its national database?

"That would be simplest thing to do, but Pakistan refuses to do that and instead engages in these pure propaganda ploys," the Spokesperson said, adding if Islamabad was serious about tracking down those behind the Uri attack, it should first bring to book those responsible for 26/11 strikes in Mumbai. Besides, it should also share with India the investigation details in the Pathankot air base attack for which a Joint Investigation Team from Pakistan visited the country, he said.

He also rejected Pakistan's allegation that India scuttled this year's SAARC summit, saying its members wrote "unanimously" to the Chair that atmosphere was not conducive for holding the meet.

Trump made telephone conversation with Pakistan PM

US President-elect ready to play role in find solutions to outstanding Pakistan problems

GKNN
Islamabad, Publish Date: Dec 1 2016 11:10PM | Updated Date: Dec 2 2016 1:02AM

US president-elect Donald Trump has said he is willing to play any role that Pakistan wants to find solutions to outstanding problems, reported Radio Pakistan.

Trump made these remarks in a telephone conversation with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. The premier had called Trump to felicitate him on his recent victory.

The US president-elect also said it will be an honour for him to do so and he will personally do what is needed.

During the telephone conversation, Trump also praised Nawaz and expressed his desire to meet the prime minister soon.

Trump added that Pakistan is an amazing country with tremendous opportunities and Pakistanis are some of the most intelligent people.

The prime minister also invited the president-elect of the United States. Trump, in reply, said he would love to visit the country and meet its people.

Following is the text of the conversation between PM Nawaz and Trump, as released by government's Press Information Department (PID).

“Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif called President-elect USA Donald Trump and felicitated him on his victory. President Trump said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif you have a very good reputation. You are a terrific guy. You are doing amazing work which is visible in every way. I am looking forward to see you soon. As I am talking to you Prime Minister, I feel I am talking to a person I have known for long. Your country is amazing with tremendous opportunities. Pakistanis are one of the most intelligent people. I am ready and willing to play any role that you want me to play to address and find solutions to the outstanding problems. It will be an honor and I will personally do it. Feel free to call me any time even before 20th January that is before I assume my office.”

“On being invited to visit Pakistan by the Prime Minister, Mr. Trump said that he would love to come to a fantastic country, fantastic place of fantastic people. Please convey to the Pakistani people that they are amazing and all Pakistanis I have known are exceptional people, said Mr. Donald Trump.”

Earlier, Donald Trump had said that if elected, he’d like to mediate between India and Pakistan because the region was a “very, very hot tinderbox.

But like the Obama administration, Trump also said that he would only mediate if both countries asked him to do so.

Donald Trump, riding a wave of populist resentment, defeated Hillary Clinton in the race to become the 45th president of the United States. Trump secured at least 290 electoral votes, securing more than the 270 he needed to succeed Barack Obama.

(DAWN)