Re: Donald Trump Talks With President of Taiwan

by **Turtleneck** 2016-12-07, 10:28

Bob Dole’s lobbying Donald Trump on Taiwan went far beyond a congratulatory phone call from Taiwan’s president.

Dole, the only past Republican presidential nominee to endorse Trump before the election, briefed the campaign’s policy director, set up meetings between campaign staff and Taiwanese emissaries, arranged for Taiwan’s delegation to attend the Republican National Convention, and helped tilt the party platform further in the island’s favor, a lobbying disclosure document filed with the Justice Department and released to POLITICO shows. He even arranged for members of Taiwan’s ruling party to take a White House tour, according to the filing.

Taiwan paid the 93-year-old Dole and his law firm, Alston & Bird, $140,000 between May and October, according to the new disclosure. His spokeswoman declined to comment.

The revelation of Dole’s extensive influence on Trump’s team follows reports that the president-elect has been declining the advice of State Department experts before talking with world leaders. It also contrasts with the transition’s ban on lobbyists and Trump’s campaign pledge to forbid his officials from lobbying for foreign governments and outlaw foreign lobbyists’ donating to American candidates.

http://www.politico.com/story/2016/12/bob-dole-donald-trump-taiwan-232266?utm_content=buffere9faf&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

by **Turtleneck** 2017-06-29, 23:41

https://www.theatlantic.com/news/archive/2017/06/trump-administration-approves-its-first-arms-sale-to-taiwan/532239/?utm_source=feed

The U.S. State Department has approved the sale of $1.4 billion in arms to the island of Taiwan, a state official told the Associated Press on Thursday. The deal—which includes missiles, torpedoes, and technical support for early warning radar—is the first of its kind under the Trump administration. The last U.S. arms deal with Taiwan was approved in December 2015 for $1.8 billion. Like its predecessors, the sale prompted stark opposition from China, which considers Taiwan as part of its territory.

This is not really noteworthy other than how it plays into the current dynamic between the U.S. and China.

by **DWags** 2017-06-29, 23:44

Turtleneck wrote:https://www.theatlantic.com/news/archive/2017/06/trump-administration-approves-its-first-arms-sale-to-taiwan/532239/?utm_source=feed

The U.S. State Department has approved the sale of $1.4 billion in arms to the island of Taiwan, a state official told the Associated Press on Thursday. The deal—which includes missiles, torpedoes, and technical support for early warning radar—is the first of its kind under the Trump administration. The last U.S. arms deal with Taiwan was approved in December 2015 for $1.8 billion. Like its predecessors, the sale prompted stark opposition from China, which considers Taiwan as part of its territory.

This is not really noteworthy other than how it plays into the current dynamic between the U.S. and China.

How this administration plays into the hands of the military industrial complex while people who voted for it will die of black lung disease.

by **Turtleneck** 2017-06-29, 23:52

DWags wrote:
Turtleneck wrote:https://www.theatlantic.com/news/archive/2017/06/trump-administration-approves-its-first-arms-sale-to-taiwan/532239/?utm_source=feed

This is not really noteworthy other than how it plays into the current dynamic between the U.S. and China.

How this administration plays into the hands of the military industrial complex while people who voted for it will die of black lung disease.

I see your point and agree. However, this is a bit different in the sense that we obligated ourselves to sell defensive weapons to Taiwan. Our arrangement with Taiwan is about protecting our own interests in NE Asia as much as anything else. This not another foreign policy gaf by his administration, or anything nefarious. It's just that we have this really odd dynamic with China right now.

by Guest 2017-06-30, 08:41

DWags wrote:
Turtleneck wrote:https://www.theatlantic.com/news/archive/2017/06/trump-administration-approves-its-first-arms-sale-to-taiwan/532239/?utm_source=feed

This is not really noteworthy other than how it plays into the current dynamic between the U.S. and China.

How this administration plays into the hands of the military industrial complex while people who voted for it will die of black lung disease.

It's the goal of all R's - to kill their voters. We've been hearing that for 50 years too.

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