Trump speaks to Taiwan's leader, China blames Taiwan

WASHINGTON/BEIJING - Reuters

US President-elect Donald Trump (L) and Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen in these file photos. / AP Photo

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump spoke by phone with President Tsai Ing-wen of Taiwan, but China, which considers the self-ruled island its own, said it was confident Washington's "one China" policy would not change.

The 10-minute telephone call was the first such contact with Taiwan by a U.S. president-elect or president since President Jimmy Carter switched diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China in 1979, acknowledging Taiwan as part of "one China." 

Hours after the Dec. 2 call, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi blamed Taiwan for the exchange.
"This is just the Taiwan side engaging in a petty action, and cannot change the one China structure already formed by the international community," Wang said at an academic forum, Hong Kong-based Phoenix TV reported.

"I believe that it won't change the longstanding 'one China' policy of the United States government."

Trump said on Twitter that Tsai had initiated the call.

"The President of Taiwan CALLED ME today to wish me congratulations on winning the Presidency. Thank you!" he said.

Alex Huang, a spokesman for Tsai, said: "Of course both sides agreed ahead of time before making contact."

The two noted that "close economic, political and security ties exist between Taiwan and the United States", the Trump transition team said in a statement.

Taiwan's presidential office said the two discussed strengthening bilateral interactions and establishing closer cooperation.

Photographs released by Taiwan's presidential office showed Tsai, her national security council chief and her foreign minister participating in the call with Trump.

China considers Taiwan a wayward province and has never renounced the use of force to bring it under its control.