Trump hints at call with Taiwan president, potentially breaking 47-year taboo

President Donald Trump's recent remarks hinting at a potential call with Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te have sent ripples through international diplomacy, particularly concerning the delicate U.S.-China relationship. If this call materializes, it would mark an unprecedented moment, shattering a long-standing diplomatic taboo observed since the normalization of ties between the U.S. and China in 1979.

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I will speak with him. I speak with everybody.

This potential engagement follows Trump's earlier statements as president-elect in 2016, where he questioned the necessity of adhering to the 'One China' policy. While he later reaffirmed respect for the policy in a call with Chinese President Xi Jinping, the prospect of a direct presidential conversation with Taiwan's leader now reignites concerns in Beijing.

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We have to talk to Taiwan. I should say, we have to talk to Taiwan, who is the person leading Taiwan right now.

China has consistently signaled its strong opposition to any actions that might be interpreted as legitimizing Taiwan's status. President Xi Jinping himself warned during a recent summit that mishandling the Taiwan issue could plunge U.S.-China relations into a severe crisis. The U.S. media, such as The New York Times, has characterized Trump's approach as a "dangerous gamble," highlighting the high stakes involved in navigating this complex geopolitical issue.

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The Taiwan issue, if handled improperly, could bring about a major crisis in China-U.S. relations.