China regularly calls Taiwan the most sensitive and important issue between it and the United States, and Beijing always complains to Washington about transit stops by Taiwanese presidents. It said Taiwan was grateful to the United States for helping to arrange the stopovers "in accordance with comfort, safety, convenience and dignity principles". The trip to the United States will be Tsai's second this year. Just 20 countries now maintain formal ties with Taiwan, instead of China, mostly small states in Central America, the Caribbean and the Pacific. Tsai's call with Trump was the first between US and Taiwan leaders since President Jimmy Carter switched diplomatic recognition to China from Taiwan in 1979.

Source: bd News24 October 27, 2017 11:37 UTC