Trump's talks with Taiwan leader anger China

China has reacted to a recent phone conversation between US president-elect Donald Trump and Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen, saying the contact was mere chicanery by Taipei and will not affect Washington’s adherence to the so-called One China concept.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told Hong Kong-based Phoenix TV on Saturday that the call was a "ploy by the Taiwan side that simply cannot change ... the One China framework,” which states that Taiwan is part of China.

"The One China principle is the cornerstone of the healthy development of Sino-US relations, and we do not want any interference or disappearance of this political foundation,” he added.

A statement from Trump’s office said he spoke late Friday with the Taiwanese president, with the conversation focused on “close economic, political, and security ties ... between Taiwan and the United States.”

Trump also congratulated Tsai on becoming the leader of Taiwan earlier this year, the statement added.

The US president-elect also confirmed that Tsai had called him to wish him congratulations on winning the presidency.

"Interesting how the US sells Taiwan billions of dollars of military equipment but I should not accept a congratulatory call," Trump later tweeted after coming under fire for the phone call.

The Taiwanese presidential office also said in a statement early Saturday that the two officials had discussed issues affecting Asia and the future of Washington-Taipei ties.

The US cut formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan in 1979 and supported the so-called "One China" policy. Since then, Washington has recognized Beijing as representing China, but has retained its unofficial ties with Taipei.

However, Tsai, who took office in May, has refused to accept the "One China" concept, prompting Beijing to cut off all official communication with the self-ruled island’s new administration.

China and Taiwan are physically separated by the Taiwan Strait in the Western Pacific Ocean. They split politically following the 1927-1950 Chinese Civil War and there have been no formal cross-strait diplomatic relations ever since.

ME