RantCrush Top 5: December 5, 2016

After Trump called Pakistan’s Prime Minister “a terrific guy” over the phone last week, things got even weirder when he picked up the phone on Friday. Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen was calling, and Trump happily answered.

But Taiwan and China have been in a conflict for many decades, and the U.S. has had little contact with Taiwan. Trump was actually the first president in 40 years to even speak on the phone with a Taiwanese leader.

Here’s a somewhat amusing animated take on the conversation:

Trump talks with #Taiwan president Tsai Ing-wen @RealDonaldTrump pic.twitter.com/jAIswY1xzY

— TomoNews US (@TomoNewsUS) December 5, 2016

This was very upsetting to China, and could upend its relationship with the United States. It is now unclear whether it was a conscious change of policy on Trump’s part, or just a rookie mistake. After all, he doesn’t have any diplomatic experience, and said himself that Taiwan just wanted to congratulate him on the win. To be continued….

Emma Von Zeipel

Emma Von Zeipel is a staff writer at Law Street Media. She is originally from one of the islands of Stockholm, Sweden. After working for Democratic Voice of Burma in Thailand, she ended up in New York City. She has a BA in journalism from Stockholm University and is passionate about human rights, good books, horses, and European chocolate. Contact Emma at EVonZeipel@LawStreetMedia.com.