President-elect Donald Trump is in hot water after speaking on the phone with Taiwan’s president, something that hasn’t been done for decades in an effort to preserve U.S.-China relations. But, Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) praised him.
Trump spoke on the phone with President Tsai Ing-wen Friday, which has not been done since 1979 when the U.S. agreed to normalize relations with China and embrace the “one China” policy. China views Taiwan as an illegitimate government.
Cotton, a hawk on foreign policy, sent out a statement commending Trump for the call.
“America’s policy toward Taiwan is governed by the Taiwan Relations Act, under which we maintain close ties with Taiwan and support its democratic system. I commend President-elect Trump for his conversation with President Tsai Ing-wen, which reaffirms our commitment to the only democracy on Chinese soil,” Cotton said. “I have met with President Tsai twice and I’m confident she expressed to the president-elect the same desire for closer relations with the United States.”
