Trump willing to call Taiwan president

President Donald Trump said on May 20 that he was willing to speak with Taiwan President Lai Ching-te, opening the door to a direct contact that would break with decades of U.S. diplomatic practice. Trump made the comment as his administration considered a possible arms package for Taiwan reported at $14 billion by Bloomberg and Politico. Taiwan’s government said on May 21 that Lai would be happy to take the call. Beijing, which claims Taiwan as its territory, has long objected to any official contact between foreign governments and Taipei. ### What exactly did Trump say? Donald Trump told reporters on May 20, “I’ll speak to him. I speak to everybody,” when asked whether he planned to talk with Lai, according to Bloomberg and other outlets. He did not give a date or say whether a call had been scheduled. Politico and Bloomberg reported that Trump linked the possible conversation to his review of a Taiwan arms package. (bloomberg.com) The proposed sale was described in those reports as worth about $14 billion. ### What did Lai say he would tell Trump? Taiwan President Lai Ching-te said on May 20 that if he got the chance to speak with Trump, he would say China was undermining peace across the Taiwan Strait and that no one had the right to annex Taiwan. (bloomberg.com) Reuters, in a report carried by U.S. News and other outlets, said Lai made the remarks as he marked two years in office. (politico.com) Lai also said Taiwan’s future could be decided only by its own people and that the island would not give up its freedom, according to the same Reuters report. NBC News, citing Reuters, said Lai would also tell Trump he hoped to continue U.S. arms purchases. ### Why would a call be unusual? (usnews.com) Washington switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979, and U.S. presidents and Taiwan’s leaders have generally avoided direct official contact since then. BBC and other reports said a Trump-Lai conversation would be unprecedented in that period. (usnews.com) China’s government regards Taiwan as part of its territory and has not ruled out taking the island by force. Taiwan rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims and says only its people can decide their future. ### How did Taipei respond on Thursday? Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry said on May 21 that Lai would be happy to speak with Trump. (nilepost.co.ug) Reuters, in a report carried by The Straits Times, described such a call as an unprecedented move. Al Jazeera and AFP also reported on May 21 that Lai said he would be “happy” to talk to Trump and that such contact would risk angering Beijing. (nilepost.co.ug) ### What is happening around the call besides diplomacy? Trump’s comment came days after a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, according to Reuters and Bloomberg summaries cited in other outlets. (straitstimes.com) It also came as Taiwan remained under military pressure from China and continued to seek U.S. weapons support. (aljazeera.com) NBC News, citing Reuters, said Lai framed Taiwan’s defense spending as an effort to prevent war, not start one. The same report said Lai faced pressure from both Beijing and Washington as Trump weighed support for further arms sales. ### What happens next? May 21 statements from Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry did not say when any Trump-Lai conversation might occur. (internazionale.it) Trump also gave no timetable when he spoke on May 20. The next concrete step is the White House decision on the proposed Taiwan arms package, which Bloomberg and Politico reported Trump was reviewing as he discussed a possible call with Lai. (nbcnews.com) (bloomberg.com) (straitstimes.com)