Ted Cruz Defends Trump’s Taiwan Call
- 7 years ago
Ted Cruz has come to Donald Trump’s defense after the president-elect stirred controversy with China by breaking from decades of tradition and talking to the president of Taiwan.
Donald Trump’s call with Taiwan’s President, Tsai Ing-wen, on Friday may have stirred controversy with China, but the president-elect also received some support from an unlikely source.
On Saturday, Senator Ted Cruz stated on Twitter, “I would much rather have Donald Trump talking to President Tsai than to Cuba's Raul Castro or Iran's Hasan Rouhani. This is an improvement.”
The call marks a departure from the U.S. foreign policy which, for decades, has sided with China in viewing Taiwan as a province, not a sovereign nation, notes CNN.
As such, a New York Times report states that Trump “...is believed to be the first president or president-elect who has spoken to a Taiwanese leader since at least 1979.”
Chinese officials have already spoken out about the matter, reiterating in a statement, “The 'one China' principle is the political foundation of China-US relations.”
Trump tweeted about the exchange, writing, “The President of Taiwan CALLED ME today to wish me congratulations on winning the Presidency. Thank you!”
He also spoke out against his critics, saying, “Interesting how the U.S. sells Taiwan billions of dollars of military equipment but I should not accept a congratulatory call.”
Donald Trump’s call with Taiwan’s President, Tsai Ing-wen, on Friday may have stirred controversy with China, but the president-elect also received some support from an unlikely source.
On Saturday, Senator Ted Cruz stated on Twitter, “I would much rather have Donald Trump talking to President Tsai than to Cuba's Raul Castro or Iran's Hasan Rouhani. This is an improvement.”
The call marks a departure from the U.S. foreign policy which, for decades, has sided with China in viewing Taiwan as a province, not a sovereign nation, notes CNN.
As such, a New York Times report states that Trump “...is believed to be the first president or president-elect who has spoken to a Taiwanese leader since at least 1979.”
Chinese officials have already spoken out about the matter, reiterating in a statement, “The 'one China' principle is the political foundation of China-US relations.”
Trump tweeted about the exchange, writing, “The President of Taiwan CALLED ME today to wish me congratulations on winning the Presidency. Thank you!”
He also spoke out against his critics, saying, “Interesting how the U.S. sells Taiwan billions of dollars of military equipment but I should not accept a congratulatory call.”