Trump's call inspires hope in Taiwan, concern in Beijing
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}FILE - This combination of two photos shows U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, left, speaking during a "USA Thank You" tour event in Cincinatti Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016, and Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen, delivering a speech during National Day celebrations in Taipei, Taiwan, Monday, Oct. 10, 2016. Trump spoke Friday, Dec. 2, with Tsai, a move that will be sure to anger China. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, Chinag Ying-ying, File) (The Associated Press)
Donald Trump's 10-minute phone call with Taiwan's president has raised the hopes of some Taiwanese that the United States will work more forcefully with the island.
But the U.S. president-elect also inflamed the complex relationships between America, China and Taiwan, which China regards as a renegade province.
Whether the U.S. president-elect meant to jump into the generational fight between China and Taiwan remains an open question. But by speaking to Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, Trump upended four decades of American foreign policy and engaged China directly on the issue of Taiwan, which Beijing has threatened to reclaim by force if necessary.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}One former American official in Taiwan says he thinks China is waiting to see what Trump does next before responding.