President-elect Donald Trump questioned whether the America had to be bound by its longstanding position that Taiwan is part of  'one China' and brushed aside Beijing's concerns about his decision to accept a phone call from the president of Taiwan .

Fox News reported, Trump said in an interview that, "I fully understand 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."  

The congratulatory call from Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen that Trump accepted was the first such contact with Taiwan by a president or US president-elect since President Jimmy Carter switched diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China in 1979, acknowledging Taiwan as part of 'one China'.

Trump said that, "I don't want China dictating to me and this was a call put into me."  "It was a very nice call. Short. And why should some other nation be able to say I can't take a call?"

"I think it actually would've been very disrespectful, to be honest with you, not taking it," the president-elect added.

Also Read: Donald Trump speaks with Taiwan's leader!

Nandini