Taiwan has been an independent island since 1950; however, China regards it as a rebel region under China’s sovereignty. China has said that countries cannot have diplomatic relations with both China and Taiwan, but the US is Taiwan’s most important and most powerful friend and ally. Under the leadership of President Ma Ying-jeou, relations with China were slightly better.

The people of Taiwan democratically elected Tsai Ing-wen as the president of Taiwan in January 2016. She ran on the platform of Taiwanese sovereignty which is a shift from the messages of the previous president of Taiwan. This has caused friction between the US and China, in regards to Taiwan’s status. The Chinese government has distanced itself from President Tsai Ing-wen which has led Taiwan to try to deepen its ties with the United States. United States president, Donald Trump, has attempted to challenge China through his foreign policy and has done so by considering reorganizing the US-Taiwan international relationship.