One China Policy Reappeared

For disappointment of Republic of China, United States President, Donald Trump, announced that he would maintain traditional One China Policy in a telephone conversation with President of People’s Republic of China, Xi Jinping, on Thursday. Trump’s handsome treatment for Taiwan did not continue a month from his inauguration. Japan recognizes his immediate policy change as balancing between Japan and China right before the meeting with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visiting U.S.

According to the read-out of White House, Trump agreed to honor One China Policy at the request of Xi. “Representatives of the United States and China will engage in discussions and negotiations on various issues of mutual interest,” explained White House. Chinese Ministry on Foreign Affairs announced that Trump promised maintenance of One China Policy, understanding importance of that policy. “The principle of One China is political basis of China-U.S. relations,” told Xi, requiring respect on China’s standpoint that PRC was an only representative of China as a whole.

According to a report of Japanese newspaper, Xi told Trump that both nations could possibly be excellent partners each other. “I believe that the United States and China are cooperative partners and through joint efforts we can push bilateral relations to a historic new high,” replied Trump. Both leaders agreed on keeping close communication, exchanging opinions on mutually interested issues, enhancing exchange and cooperation in every area and expecting early opportunity of their meeting. They raised economy, trade and investment as actual activities for bilateral cooperation.

Japan does not fully welcome the improvement of U.S.-China relations. One governmental official focused on the timing of the telephone conference two days before Japan-U.S. summit meeting in Washington, D.C. It is possible that Trump balances hardliners represented by Peter Nabarro, Chairman of National Trade Council, with the moderates like Henry Kissinger who pays respect for U.S.-China relations. An officer with Ministry on Foreign Affairs of Japan regretted that U.S.-China relations was improved before Japan made progress in relations with U.S.

Abe administration puts the highest priority on reconfirming that Article 5 of Japan-U.S. Security Treaty is applied to Senkaku Islands, in which China claims its ownership. While Trump accuses China and Japan of their involvement in monetary market, he looks for preferable deals in economic relationship with both countries. Japanese officials warn a possibility of double standard of U.S. policy in the relationships with between Japan and China.