Taiwan frets at being pawn in any Trump reset of US, China ties

Tokyo

US President-elect Donald Trump's declaration that the United States could link its policy on Taiwan to trade negotiations with China prompted concerns on the island that it may become a pawn in wider superpower discussions.

"Trump's comments regularly mention Taiwan. What advantage is this giving Taiwan? This is something we must consider," Johnny Chiang, an opposition Nationalist lawmaker, told reporters. "Otherwise, among the superpowers, when we are betrayed, we won't even realise it."

Mr Trump told Fox News Sunday that he fully understood the "one China" policy, "but I don't know why we have to be bound by a 'one China' policy unless we make a deal with China having to do with other things, including trade…