The former head of the American Chamber of Commerce in China, told stated that Trump never should’ve raised the ‘One China’ issue in the first place.
By James Holbrooks
After months of tough talk on the campaign trail on how to handle China — and after weeks of even tougher talk from some in his administration since being elected — President Donald Trump, according to official statements, has agreed to change course and abide by the ‘One China’ policy.
“President Donald J. Trump and President Xi of China had a lengthy telephone conversation on Thursday evening. The two leaders discussed numerous topics and President Trump agreed, at the request of President Xi, to honor [their] ‘one China’ policy,” a White House statement said.
Describing the phone call as a “very cordial,” one in which the two leaders “extended best wishes to the people of each other’s country,” the statement says that going forward, “the United States and China will engage in discussions and negotiations on various issues of mutual interest.”
In a statement published by China’s Foreign Ministry, President Xi appeared appreciative of Trump’s acceptance of the ‘One China’ doctrine:
Suggesting there’s no reason both nations can’t grow at the same time, Xi added, “The development of China and the United States absolutely can complement each other and advance together. Both sides absolutely can become very good cooperative partners.”
Trump campaigned on nationalistic rhetoric rooted in an “America First” ideology that advocated economic protectionism. This stood in stark contrast to the ‘One China’ policy the Asian superpower requires other countries to recognize if they wish to engage it in trade and commerce.
Since entering the White House, comments made by Trump and certain members of his administration — such as Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who suggested the U.
