There won't be a war. At the end of the day the USA remains the worlds only superpower. China will just moan about it without actually doing anything other than the odd cyber attack.

China is big on doing things for show and this might be an opportunity to react robustly as a warning to the new president who thinks he can do what he likes when he likes. You are probably right in that this is unlikely to result in war but I'm sure they will find some way of showing that they are royally pissed off with him to the point where he should put some thought into engaging his brain before lovely informal chats on the phone with no thought for protocol.

Err.. good luck with that, me old China...

Oh, good. Phew. Keep poking the bear (or panda), then, there's no risk.

I believe it was the possibility of war in Asia that was mentioned. America has a great history of success there — Korea, Vietnam, Taiwan, Afghanistan, Iraq (OK, this is heading out of Asia now).

Why shouldn't they poke them? At the end of the day he had a phone call with Taiwan, nothing more.

China on the other hand annexed Tibet and the world just watched. They're now building islands in the South China Sea in places they've no business being.

I don't understand how people can criticise Trump on this. He spoke to a democratically elected leader, and people are worried he has offended what essentially is a communist dictatorship.

Frankly, I think this time Trump was right.

Following media reports pointing out the risks of angering China, Mr Trump tweeted: "Interesting how the US sells Taiwan billions of dollars of military equipment but I should not accept a congratulatory call."

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-38191711

China would have done better just to keep their mouth shut and let it pass.

I think that's precisely the problem. Trump has no political experience and presumably no respect for diplomacy, which, to the average Trump fanboy is fabulously refreshing and the way forward. Unfortunately, most of the rest of the world rightly or wrongly isn't at this way of working.

It's like sending a toddler in to run a university. Cute and funny for the parents and relatives with a vested interest in the toddler, cooing and posting pics and anecdotes on Instagram, as well as banging on about how "special" and "talented" he is. Embarrassing and a disaster in the making for everyone with experience in running universities.

Trump is dangerous because he knows how to use propaganda to move the masses.

You'd think so...

China, Russia and the likes will never "keep their mouth shut"..
But anyway, Trump doesn't seem fit to deal with these kind of situations.

that's more or less what they've done: passed it off as trump the inexperienced being tricked by taiwan, rather than a deliberate change in policy.

it would also make sense for the US to keep its mouth shut and keep selling.

the status quo more or less suits everyone: china pretends they are in control, taiwan has de facto independence, US pays lip service but sells arms to taiwan and maintains trading relationships with china.

under the current arrangement, arguably china is the worst off and US and taiwan are doing well.

what has the US got to gain by rocking the boat? if they push china to go to war with taiwan, will it benefit the US? will the US want to get involved in that war? as ukraine and syria are more important for russia than they are to the US, so taiwan is more important to china than it is to the US.

EDIT: another theory is that this is not a blunder by Trump, but that this is a policy move by anti-communist hawks within Trump's team

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Another of Donald's late night rants. Is this really appropriate behaviour for a PE? Really?

So who wants to put money on Mr Trump still being alive on January 20th?

I'll take that bet. I don't reckon anyone will touch him surprisingly enough. Used to think so, but not now.

Come on loz, certainly you're well aware that the US don't give a rats ass on democracy in the countries thes support control. There's a long history with plenty cases, not just nice words and theories, that prove the US claims of propagating democracy and freedom is nothing but lukewarm air.

Far-right Austrian presidential candidate Norbert Hofer has conceded defeat. Thank you Mr Trump for demonstrating the dangers of electing populists!

Source

Hallelujah!
I'm surprised he conceded so early, and only based upon projections??? Even so, I do hope that 7% is true or even larger.

I have a huge soft spot for Austria. It's been a favourite country of all my my family for many decades. I even married there, and have followed their politics since the early 1990's. There are dark forces there, but the majority of people are wonderful.

This has noting to do with Trump. 47% of the population still voted for Hofer and on current projections his party will poll the most at the next parliamentary elections (which actually mean something). I'd hold the champagne.

Maybe more to do with Nigel!!
LOL, happy days

Source

Of course I'm aware of that. The US is as selfish as they come and will do whatever is in their own interests.

From a moral standpoint however, this phone call can't be criticised, which is what many in the US media are doing at the moment.

Sad day for EF.

According to the exit polls it looks like Renzi will lose the Referendum vote by ca. 10%!