Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/12/04
By: Rita Cheng and Kuo Chung-han
Washington, Dec. 4 (CNA) It was right for U.S. President-elect Donald Trump to take a congratulatory call on Friday from Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), another democratically elected leader – a simple courtesy and a fundamental part of real democracy, two former U.S. officials said on Sunday.
Trump was just doing what he said in the presidential campaign: being open to talking to foreign leaders who want good relations with the United States, Stephen Yates and Christian Whiton wrote in an article on the Fox News website.
Trump and Tsai briefly talked about economic, political and security-related ties between the two countries and Trump congratulated Tsai on her victory in elections earlier this year – a milestone because Tsai is the first woman leader in Asia who isn’t the daughter or wife of a former leader, Yates and Whiton said.
Tsai’s victory also marked the third shift in power from one party to another in Taiwan – a symbol of a mature democracy and further proof that democracy can work in ethnic Chinese communities, they said in “Why Trump was right to talk with Taiwan’s president.” [FULL STORY]