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Trump Commits to ‘One China’ Policy

In first conversation with Chinese president since November.

On Thursday, President Trump finally spoke to President Xi Jinping of China—and committed to the “One China” policy. According to a report in The New York Times, Xi had not spoken to Trump since Nov. 14, shortly before Trump made the unconventional move of taking a congratulatory phone call from the president of Taiwan and expressing doubts about the “One China” policy. The White House announced this week that Trump had sent Xi a letter wishing him happy Lunar New Year, perhaps with the intention of improving relations. Administration officials said they believed the two men would only speak after Trump committed to the “One China” policy supporting a a single Chinese government in Beijing. Trump’s national security adviser, Michael Flynn, reportedly spoke to China’s top foreign-policy official, Yang Jiechi, last Friday to attempt to mend the relationship.