P.J. Crowley: ‘Conscious Decision and Strategy’ Behind Trump’s Taiwan Call

CROWLEY: "I think we are learning that there was, in fact, a conscious decision and a strategy behind the phone call that was in the works for some time. And it has two elements. First is gaining leverage over China. You know, on the campaign trail Donald Trump is asking a lot of China. He wants better deals on trade. He wants China to use its leverage over North Korea. It wants to stop building artificial islands and increasing tensions in the South China Sea. So now the question is wading into the difficult and complex diplomatic waters of Taiwan, a major issue perhaps how China defines itself. Is this the best issue to gain leverage over China? We’ll have to wait and see."