Donald Trump risks China fury with phone call to president of Taiwan – breaking 37 years of US policy
The US president-elect accepted the congratulations of Taiwan's leader, causing a diplomatic uproar
DONALD Trump has risked causing an international crisis after a phone call with the President of Taiwan.
The US president-elect's call with President Tsai Ing-wen has broken 37 years of US foreign policy with the controversial conversation having the potential to shake America's diplomatic relations with China.
Taiwan considers itself a self-ruling country but China has long-considered it to be a part of its sovereign territory.
It is believed to be the first time that a US president has spoken to the leader of Taiwan since 1979 when former President Jimmy Carter adopted the one-China policy.
Trump has since been hit with a barrage of criticism after accepting the call.
Tweeting about the call, Trump wrote: "The President of Taiwan CALLED ME today to wish me congratulations on winning the Presidency. Thank you!"
Addressing the criticism around the phone call, he later wrote: "Interesting how the U.S. sells Taiwan billions of dollars of military equipment but I should not accept a congratulatory call."
While Trump did not initiate the phone call, it has been revealed that he did agree to the conversation.
Alex Huang, a spokesman for the Taiwan leader, said: "Of course both sides agreed ahead of time before making contact."
The Taiwanese authorities said the Friday phone call, which lasted about 10 minutes, was about how to strengthen bilateral interactions and how to improve cooperation.
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The call has made headlines in the US, with questions raised around whether Trump wanted to have more formal relations with Taiwan.
Trump also faced accusations that he did not understand the implications of such a phone call.
But Trump's campaign adviser Kellyanne Conway told CNN that Trump was "well aware of the US policy".
She later added that he was "fully briefed and fully knowledgeable about these issues on an ongoing basis."
The White House also released a statement, saying the "longstanding policy" on China and Taiwan had not changed.
Trump's national security spokesman Ned Price said: "We remain firmly committed to our 'one China' policy.
"Our fundamental interest is in peace and stable cross-Strait relations."
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called the phone call "a shenanigan by the Taiwan side".
He said: "I don't think it will change the 'one China' policy that US administrations have adhered to over the years.
"The 'one China' policy is the cornerstone of a healthy China-U.S. relationship. I hope this political foundation won't be disrupted or damaged."
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