From Pak to Taiwan, Trump's phone calls upsetting diplomacy?

New York: US President-elect Donald Trump's call to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif could "upset the delicate balance" of Indo-Pak ties, the New York Times said as it sounded a critical tone of him breaking decades of diplomatic practice in freewheeling calls with foreign leaders.

"President-elect Donald J Trump has broken with decades of diplomatic practice in freewheeling calls with foreign leaders," the New York Times said as the next leader of the US upset the status quo in his conversations with world leaders.

In an unprecedented break from diplomatic practice and a move that could irk China, Trump spoke with Taiwan's president Tsai Ing-wen, becoming the first president or president-elect to speak with a Taiwanese leader since at least 1979, when

Washington had severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan as part of its recognition of China. On November 30, Trump spoke with Sharif, who according to a Pakistani government readout of their call, invited Trump to visit the south Asian country. The readout said Trump had called Pakistan a "fantastic" country full of "fantastic" people that he "would love" to visit as president. He had also called Sharif as "terrific" and Pakistanis "are one of the most intelligent people", according to the Pakistani readout which added that Trump said he is "ready and willing to play any role that you want me to play to address and find solutions to the outstanding problems".

"Should Trump follow through, he risks alienating India, which sees Pakistan as a major antagonist, and appearing to reward Pakistan's behaviour; should he renege, he risks upsetting Pakistani leaders who are sensitive about perceived American intransigence. Either way, the call could upset the delicate balance of India-Pakistan ties, which the US has struggled to manage amid a history of wars and recent skirmishes," the New York Times said.

On Trump’s conversation with Ing-wen, NYT said the call "risks infuriating China", which considers Taiwan a breakaway province governed by Chinese rebels.

"By honouring the Taiwanese president with a formal call, Trump’s transition team implicitly suggests that it considers Taiwan an independent state," it said, noting that the US has declined to recognise Taiwan since 1979, when it shifted recognition to the government in Beijing. Taiwan itself has yet to declare formal independence.

Trump had tweeted, "The President of Taiwan CALLED ME today to wish me congratulations on winning the Presidency".

In a December 2 conversation with Rodrigo Duterte, president of the Philippines, Trump invited him to visit Washington.

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) described it as a "foolish" call, while Republican lawmakers said this is a bold move.

The White House, which was unaware of the phone call till it happened, asserted that this is unlikely to have an impact on long standing one-China policy of the United States.

"There is no change to our longstanding policy on cross-Strait issues. We remain firmly committed to our "one China" policy based on the three Joint Communiques and the Taiwan Relations Act. Our fundamental interest is in peaceful and stable cross-Strait relations," said Ned Price Spokesman of the National Security Council, White House.

"As President Obama has said, we are committed to ensuring the smoothest possible transition for the incoming administration. Every President, regardless of party, has benefited from the expertise and counsel of State Department on matters like these," Price said.

"This (phone call) suggests that we are in for a really really bumpy road," said Senator Chris Murphy.

Senator Tom Cotton commended Trump for his conversation with Tsai Ing-wen. Taiwan, he said is the only democracy on Chinese soil.

"I have met with President Tsai twice and I'm confident she expressed to the president-elect the same desire for closer relations with the United States," Cotton said. Congressman Steve Chabot, Chairman of the House Small Business Committee, said he is pleased to hear that Trump has re-engaged Taiwan at the highest level.

"For too long, Taiwan has been subjected to the bully tactics of the People's Republic of China," he said.

He is also a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Judiciary Committee.

"Donald Trump is either too incompetent to understand that his foolish phone call threatens our national security, or he's doing it deliberately because he reportedly wants to build hotels in Taiwan to pad his own pockets," said DNC spokesman Eric Walker, alleging that by doing so Trump is prioritising his personal fortune over the security interests of the nation.