By Keoni Everington
Former U.S. Senator Bob Dole.
Former Republican senator and presidential nominee Bob Dole arranged the phone call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen, according to a transition official with the Trump team who spoke with the Wall Street Journal.
Last Friday, President-elect Donald Trump engaged in a stunning and unprecedented phone call with Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen, breaking with nearly 40 years of diplomatic protocol and instantly riling China's leaders.
There was much conjecture as to Trump's intentions in taking the call from Tsai and who actually initiated the call.
In a tweet after the call took place, Trump said "The President of Taiwan CALLED ME today to wish me congratulations on winning the Presidency. Thank you!"
However, it has now become apparent that it was former Republican senator and 1996 presidential candidate Bob Dole who played a key role in setting up the phone call.
The Wall Street Journal contacted Dole about his role in setting up the meeting:
Mr. Dole, in an interview, said the law firm he is affiliated with does work with the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the U.S., and that the firm played a role in arranging the phone call.
However, it has now become apparent that it was former Republican senator and 1996 presidential candidate Bob Dole who played a key role in setting up the phone call.
The Wall Street Journal contacted Dole about his role in setting up the meeting:
Mr. Dole, in an interview, said the law firm he is affiliated with does work with the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the U.S., and that the firm played a role in arranging the phone call.
“It’s fair to say that we may have had some influence,” Mr. Dole said.
Unlike what had previously been reported by many media outlets as a 10 minute phone call, the Journal reports that it was 12 minutes, with Trump stressing to Tsai that his top priority was the economy.
Unlike what had previously been reported by many media outlets as a 10 minute phone call, the Journal reports that it was 12 minutes, with Trump stressing to Tsai that his top priority was the economy.
Though Trump initially made it seem as though he was merely receiving what he described as a "congratulatory call," a source who spoke to the Journal also revealed that the meeting had in fact had been planned weeks in advance:
“The conversation was about regional stability,” said the person, adding the call was planned weeks in advance.
“The conversation was about regional stability,” said the person, adding the call was planned weeks in advance.
"It marked the first of its kind since at least 1979, when the U.S. established formal relations with Beijing."
Tsai too had been planning for the call, with a prepared set of talking points and was surrounded by Taiwan's foreign minister, David Lee, as well as two top National Security Council officials and her spokesman, Alex Huang, according to the Journal.
In a recent 20-minute interview with VOA in Chinese, Stephen Yates, a deputy security advisor to former US vice president Dick Cheney and current chairman of the Idaho Republican Party, said that with his extensive experience in the Greater China region, he has been approached by the Trump team for advice and insights.
Tsai too had been planning for the call, with a prepared set of talking points and was surrounded by Taiwan's foreign minister, David Lee, as well as two top National Security Council officials and her spokesman, Alex Huang, according to the Journal.
In a recent 20-minute interview with VOA in Chinese, Stephen Yates, a deputy security advisor to former US vice president Dick Cheney and current chairman of the Idaho Republican Party, said that with his extensive experience in the Greater China region, he has been approached by the Trump team for advice and insights.
He told the Journal that Tsai's name was on Trump's list of foreign leaders to contact by phone for at least a week saying, "To my knowledge, Taiwan was on that list early, and it took some time to arrange.”
Yates, who is now in the running for a post in Trump's administration, is currently on a trip to Taiwan "to meet and exchange ideas with old friends in Taiwan."
Yates, who is now in the running for a post in Trump's administration, is currently on a trip to Taiwan "to meet and exchange ideas with old friends in Taiwan."
There has been media speculation that he is planning to meet with major leaders of Taiwan's government, possibly including President Tsai Ing-wen, but he has yet to publicly acknowledge such reports.
According to media reports, Yates was a Mormon missionary in Taiwan in the 1980s, speaks fluent Mandarin and developed a close relationship with Taiwan while working at Heritage Foundation.
According to media reports, Yates was a Mormon missionary in Taiwan in the 1980s, speaks fluent Mandarin and developed a close relationship with Taiwan while working at Heritage Foundation.
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