NEW YORK–(ENEWSPF)–December 2, 2016
Taiwanese President Tsai Ying-wen
Donald Trump’s phone call with Tsai Ying-wen, the president of Taiwan, was not like other phone calls with foreign leaders, even by the appalling standard Trump has been setting so far:
The telephone call, confirmed by three people, is believed to be the first between a US president or president-elect and a leader of Taiwan since diplomatic relations between the two were cut in 1979.
Although it is not clear if the Trump transition team intended the conversation to signal a broader change in US policy towards Taiwan, the call is likely to infuriate Beijing which regards the island as a renegade province.
The Taiwanese president ran on a platform of independence from China, so Trump’s action here is likely to be especially provoking to Beijing. And then there’s this, from November:
The mayor of Taoyuan confirmed rumors on Wednesday that US president-elect Donald Trumpwas considering constructing a series of luxury hotels and resorts in the northwest Taiwanese city.
A representative from the Trump Organization paid a visit to Taoyuan in September, expressing interest in the city’s Aerotropolis, a large-scale urban development project aimed at capitalizing on Taoyuan’s status as a transport hub for East Asia, Taiwan News reports.
Quite a record Trump is putting together:
Trump has now 1. worried India by saying he'd visit Pakistan 2.invited Duterte to DC 3. angered China by speaking w Taiwan pres. In two days
— Dave Lawler (@DavidLawler10) December 2, 2016
But hey, he might become the first U.S. president to open a resort in Taiwan, and if that doesn’t contribute to American greatness, I don’t know what will.
Source: http://dailykos.com
