Taiwan President Lai Ching-te would be happy to speak with U.S. President Donald Trump, its foreign ministry said on Thursday, in what would be an unprecedented call between the leaders of the world's most potent military and the island claimed by China, Reuters reported.
It is still unclear when such talks might occur, but the decision could roil Washington's relations with Beijing and help resolve the fate of a massive arms package the United States is considering for democratically-governed Taiwan.
U.S. and Taiwan presidents have not spoken directly since Washington shifted diplomatic recognition to Beijing from Taipei in 1979. China considers Taiwan its own territory and has never renounced the use of force to bring it under Beijing's control.
On Wednesday, Trump said he would speak to Lai, the second time in a week he has done so, dispelling initial speculation that his first mention of it after his Beijing summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping was a verbal slip.
China responded to Trump's remarks by telling the United States to handle the Taiwan issue with "extreme caution".
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