Trump launches Twitter attack on China as he defends controversial phone call with Taiwan’s president
Donald Trump took to Twitter to insist he did not need China's permission to engage with Taiwan
DONALD Trump launched a scathing Twitter attack on China as he defended his decision to take a congratulatory phone call from Taiwan's President.
The President-elect's controversial call broke with 37 years of US diplomatic protocol and prompted a furious response from China.
Following the backlash, Trump took to Twitter to insist he did not need China's permission to engage with Taiwan - which Beijing views as a breakaway province.
He accused Beijing of currency manipulation and flexing its military might in the South China Sea.
"Did China ask us if it was OK to devalue their currency (making it hard for our companies to compete), heavily tax our products going into their country (the U.S. doesn't tax them)," Trump tweeted on Sunday.
"Or to build a massive military complex in the middle of the South China Sea? I don't think so!"
His outburst came just hours after his team tried to downplay the fact that Trump could threaten a diplomatic rift with Beijing.
Vice-president-elect, Mike Pence, dismissed the row as “a tempest in a teapot”.
But Trump's critics pointed out the call was the first time a US president or president-elect has spoken to a Taiwanese leader since 1979.
The US has not formally recognised Taiwan as an independent state since it re-established diplomatic ties with the communist mainland over 40 years ago.
China announced it has lodged a formal complaint over the 10-minute phone call.
"We have noticed relevant reports and lodged solemn representation with the relevant side in the United States," China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said.
"I must point out that there is only one China in the world and Taiwan is an inseparable part of the Chinese territory ... The 'one China' principle is the political foundation of China-US relations."
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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