Recently, President elect, Donald J. Trump received a congratulatory phone call from

President Tsai of Taiwan, alarming all political and international relation experts. But why? For decades, countries like the United States have had a complex and shaky relationship with China, a.k.a. the People’s Republic of China, and Taiwan, now recognized as the Republic of China.

Back in 1927, a civil war broke out in the republic of China, making it a communist country. Nationalist leaders fled to Taiwan. Now, Both Taiwan and China believe to have control over the mainland. Taiwan perceives the Chinese mainland as a country ruled by communist rebels, and China sees Taiwan as a breakaway province, not their own country. Since 1979, the United States have exclusively recognized Beijing, the capital of China, ultimately cutting all ties with Taiwan.

China had issued a “one China” policy, forcing all foreign countries to choose between recognizing Beijing, or Taiwan as the representative for the entire republic. Most every foreign country has chosen to recognize Beijing, the ruler of the world’s second largest economy.

However, relations between the territories and the United States have been shaky. In 1995, Washington was put under intense scrutiny for granting the President of Taiwan a visa to the United States. Beijing saw this as a threatening move, a possible step forward in recognition of Taiwan, weakening their power and control in the world. In response, China fired missiles to Taiwan. In response to the missiles, the United States placed two aircraft carrier groups nearby. This settled the dispute, but reminded the United States how sensitive the relationship between China and Taiwan really is.

This recently accepted phone call by Donald Trump is no different. By accepting the phone call from Taiwanese President, President Tsai, the president elect has communicated recognition of Taiwan as an independent nation.

This provokes two possible outcomes, ignoring American policy, possibly ending the decades long peaceful relationship, or observing Taiwanese independence, inevitably provoking war.

However, like many of the unconventional, and possibly “wrong” things President elect Donald Trump has done in the past year, he is given an excuse, granting him the benefit of the doubt. Both China and Taiwan have chosen to observe the future president’s action as a mistake, rather than a policy shift.