On December 2, 2016, US President-elect Donald J. Trump spoke over telephone to Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen, “who offered her congratulations.” Trump is believed to be the first US President or President-elect who has spoken to a Taiwanese leader since 1979, when the United States severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan after its recognition of the People’s Republic of China. The statement issued by Trump’s office said the two leaders noted that “close economic, political, and security ties” exist between Taiwan and the United States and that Trump “congratulated President Tsai on becoming president of Taiwan earlier this year.”