Analysis | What does Donald Trump’s phone call with President Tsai mean for future US arms sales to Taiwan?
US arms sales are not just business deals but have had a vital stabilising effect, analysts say
The ripple effect of a telephone call between US president-elect Donald Trump and Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen has cast uncertainty overthe protocol of future arms deals between Washington and Taipei, an area of key concern to Beijing.
Following their 10-minute conversation on Friday, Trump said on Twitter: “Interesting how the US sells Taiwan billions of dollars of military equipment but I should not accept a congratulatory call”, indicating the incoming US president might treat Taiwan more like an honoured client for American arms exports.
The call came just hours after the US House of Representatives on Friday passed the National Defence Authorisation Act for Fiscal Year 2017, which included for the first time a section on high-level senior military exchanges with Taiwan.
The bill, which was voted through 375-34, will be forwarded to the Senate for consideration this week.
Beijing and Washington set up formal diplomatic ties in 1979, but the US Congress in the same year passed the Taiwan Relations Act that allows arms sales to Taiwan.