Kinmen, Taiwan

WITH a phone call and a tweet in December, Donald Trump shook the bedrock of relations with China and Taiwan by questioning the long-standing "One China" policy. Three weeks into Mr Trump's presidency, an unusually cordial telephone conversation followed. Chinese President Xi Jinping asked specifically if the United States will honour the One China policy. Mr Trump withdrew the implied threat.

But a seed was planted, and the issue could emerge again. By questioning the validity of the policy, Mr Trump in effect had declared the policy a bargaining chip. This presented the pragmatic, forward-looking and successful Taiwan a dilemma on how to respond if, sometime in the future, the US did take steps towards Taiwan's formal recognition.