Trump Says He’s Willing to Speak With Taiwan’s President in Major Break From Diplomatic Tradition

US President Donald Trump has suggested he may speak directly with Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te, a move that would mark a major shift from long-standing diplomatic practice between the United States, Taiwan, and China.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland before boarding Air Force One, Trump said he would be open to talking with Taiwan’s leader when asked whether he planned to call Lai before deciding on a major arms sale approved by the US Congress.

“I’ll speak to him,” Trump reportedly said. “I speak to everybody. We have that situation very well in hand.”

He also added, “We’ll work on that Taiwan problem.”

If such a conversation happens, it would be considered highly significant because US and Taiwanese presidents have not spoken directly since 1979. That year, Washington officially shifted diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing under the “One China” policy, which recognizes the government of China as the sole legal government of the country.

Trump’s comments have already drawn global attention because relations between China and Taiwan remain highly sensitive. China considers Taiwan part of its territory and strongly opposes any official diplomatic engagement between Taiwan and foreign governments.

The remarks also came shortly after Trump returned from a closely watched visit to Beijing, where he reportedly met with Chinese President Xi Jinping. According to reports, Xi warned Trump that Taiwan could become “a very dangerous situation” if it is not handled carefully.

Despite Trump’s public comments, it remains unclear whether his administration has officially moved forward with plans for a direct call with Taiwan’s president.

The issue of arms sales to Taiwan has also remained a major point of tension between the United States and China for many years. Washington has continued supplying defensive weapons to Taiwan, while Beijing views such actions as interference in its internal affairs.

Political analysts believe that any direct communication between a sitting US president and Taiwan’s leader could trigger strong reactions from China and further affect relations between Washington and Beijing.

In conclusion, Trump’s willingness to potentially speak directly with Taiwan’s president represents a major departure from decades of diplomatic norms and could have significant implications for US-China-Taiwan relations if such communication eventually takes place.