Saturday, December 3, 2016

U.S. president-elect, in break with practice, speaks to Taiwan's leader

Via Billy

 Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen speaks during an interview in Luque
Winston Lord, former U.S. ambassador to China and former assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, said the strategic importance of Trump's move was unclear.
"Like so many things with Trump, who knows? This man is ignorant about foreign policy and is flying by the seat of his pants, so it is difficult to assess the significance.
"Having said that, I have no problem with his talking to Madame Tsai; Taiwan is a good friend and although our relations are unofficial, I think it’s important to maintain close bonds with Taiwan." :)

President-elect Donald Trump spoke by phone on Friday with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, a transition team spokeswoman said, in a move likely to infuriate China and expected to complicate relations.

The call, confirmed by Trump transition spokeswoman Hope Hicks, was the first such contact with Taiwan by a president-elect or president since President Jimmy Carter adopted a one-China policy in 1979.

More @ Yahoo

4 comments:

  1. If I understand the situation correctly, the President of Taiwan called Trump, not Trump called her. And the call was just a call of congratulations. Exactly what was Trump expected protocol - hide under his desk and pretend he was the cleaning lady ?

    China I think is pretending to be upset, international politics.

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  2. "This man is ignorant about foreign policy"

    Spoken like a true diplomat.

    Just one of the many things that grinds my teeth is the arrogance of the State Department and all current and past ambassadors. Being ignorant about YOUR foreign policy doesn't make him ignorant about HIS foreign policy. Foreign policy is whatever the President says it is, not what some career bureaucrat says it is, or worse, what some ambassador says it is.

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    Replies
    1. Spoken like a true diplomat.

      Ha! :)

      ===============

      Being ignorant about YOUR foreign policy doesn't make him ignorant about HIS foreign policy.

      Excellent point.

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