President-elect Donald Trump spoke with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen on Friday, breaking decades of a US president speaking with a Taiwanese state leader in the face of Chinese threats.

Trump tweeted out about the call on Friday.

Interesting how the U.S. sells Taiwan billions of dollars of military equipment but I should not accept a congratulatory call.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 3, 2016

The President of Taiwan CALLED ME today to wish me congratulations on winning the Presidency. Thank you!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 3, 2016

“The President of Taiwan CALLED ME today to wish me congratulations on winning the Presidency,” he tweeted. Thank you!”

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi referred to the call as a “small trick by Taiwan,” didn’t think it would affect the foreign policy of the US to China.

“This is but a petty action created by Taiwan. It can never change the ‘one China’ reality that has formed in international society,” Wi said. “The ‘one China’ principle is the cornerstone of a healthy Sino-U.S. relationship. We do not want this political foundation to be affected or destroyed by anything.”

“We have noticed relevant reports and lodged solemn representation with the relevant side in the United States,” said a statement Saturday from China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang. “I must point out that there is only one China in the world and Taiwan is an inseparable part of the Chinese territory … The ‘one China’ principle is the political foundation of China-US relations.

“We urge the relevant side in the US to adhere to the ‘one China’ policy, abide by the pledges in the three joint China-US communiques, and handle issues related to Taiwan carefully and properly to avoid causing unnecessary interference to the overall China-U.S. relationship.”

Fox News reported:

The conversation Friday between Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and Trump, a first-time elected official with no official foreign policy experience, indeed broke with decades-long diplomatic tradition.

Washington has pursued a so-called “one China” policy since 1979, when it shifted diplomatic recognition of China from the government in Taiwan to the communist government on the mainland.

Under that policy, the United States recognizes Beijing as representing China but retains unofficial ties with Taiwan.

The Taiwanese presidential office issue a statement on Saturday.

“The (Taiwanese) president is looking forward to strengthening bilateral interactions and contacts as well as setting up closer cooperative relations,” the statement said.

“The president also told U.S. President-elect Trump that she hopes the U.S. will continue to support Taiwan’s efforts in having more opportunities to participate in and contribute to international affairs in the future,” Tsai’s office said.

As always, the Obama administration said they knew nothing of the conversation till after it took place. Of course, they didn’t.

At least Trump didn’t seem to be intimidated by China’s bark, which may just be worse than their bite.