A triumphant China today welcomed US President Donald Trump's climbdown on the 'One China' policy during his telephonic call with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping but parried questions on whether his change of stand was part of any concessions made by Beijing.
"One China principle is the political foundation of China-US relationship and to uphold it and abide by it based on previous communiques between the two countries is the obligation of the US government. It is also the long standing position held by China," Chinese Foreign Ministry's spokesman, Lu Kang, told media soon after Trump and Xi's conversation.
"In the telephone call President Trump said they are committed to 'One China' principle we appreciated that," Lu said answering a spate of questions on the policy that states that Taiwan is a part of China.
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The White House statement after Trump-Xi first phone talks said, "President Trump agreed, at the request of President Xi, to honour our 'One China' policy".
Trump, after his election, had stated that the 'One China' policy on Taiwan is up for negotiation and that he is not fully committed to it.
While Trump's U-turn on 'One China' policy, his first major diplomatic climbdown after he took over on January 20 is being projected by China as a major victory for Xi who has emerged as China's most powerful leader in recent times, speculation is also rife whether Trump extracted any concessions from Beijing.
China had hit back saying 'One-China' policy which stipulates that Taiwan is part of Chinese mainland is "non-negotiable".
However, a Chinese official statement struck a different note saying "besides, Trump said he fully understands the high significance of the US government's pursuit of the 'One China' policy, adding that the US government adheres to the 'One China' policy".
"Xi said he appreciated Trump's stressing that the US government adheres to the One China policy, adding that the policy is the political basis of China-US relations," state-run Xinhua news agency quoted the statement as saying.
Parrying questions on any understanding, Lu said the first telephone conversation between the two leaders was made after high level consultations between the two countries.
Observers say that the first phone call from Trump which came after he spoke to 18 world leaders may have been delayed due to both countries negotiating on how to handle the 'One China' policy hurdle because China said it is non-negotiable and Xi's political image would have suffered if he had spoken to Trump after US leader's strong statements on Taiwan.
Trump is also the first US political leader who spoke to Taiwanese President Tsai-Ing-wen after his election which riled China.
Asked whether China has made any concession for Trump to climb down from his earlier said he would renegotiate one china principle, Lu said "from the phone call between the two President you can see that President Trump has already expressed the American government's commitment for the 'One China' policy. We appreciated that," he said.
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