US President Donald Trump has said he plans to speak with Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te regarding a possible American arms sale to Taiwan, marking a major break from long-standing diplomatic protocol between Washington and Taipei.
Since 1979, US presidents have avoided direct communication with Taiwanese leaders after the United States officially recognised the government of China in Beijing instead of Taiwan.
Speaking to reporters, Trump said he would discuss the Taiwan issue directly with Lai Ching-te and added that he speaks “to everybody”. He also described his relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping as “amazing” following a recent summit in Beijing.
China reacted strongly to Trump’s remarks, with the Chinese foreign ministry warning the United States against official exchanges with Taiwan and urging Washington to stop sending “wrong signals” to pro-independence groups in Taiwan.
Reports suggest the United States is considering a massive $14 billion arms package for Taiwan, including air-defence missile systems and anti-drone equipment. Trump said he has not yet made a final decision on the deal.
Taiwan has increased its defence spending under President Lai Ching-te amid growing military pressure from China. Lai has repeatedly stated that Taiwan is a sovereign and democratic country and stressed that US arms sales are important for maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.
The issue of Taiwan remains one of the biggest points of tension between China and the United States. Beijing claims Taiwan as its territory and has not ruled out using force to bring the island under its control.
Trump previously broke diplomatic tradition in 2016 when he spoke with then Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen after winning the US presidential election, prompting protests from China.
