Agencies
New York, Dec 3: US President-elect Donald Trump’s call to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif could “upset the delicate balance” of India-Pakistan ties, the New York Times said as it sounded a critical tone of him breaking decades of diplomatic practice in freewheeling calls with foreign leaders. “President-elect Donald J Trump has broken with decades of diplomatic practice in freewheeling calls with foreign leaders,” the New York Times said as the next leader of the US upset the status quo in his conversations with world leaders.
In an unprecedented break from diplomatic practice and a move that could irk China, Trump spoke with Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen, becoming the first President or President-elect to speak with a Taiwanese leader since at least 1979, when Washington had severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan as part of its recognition of China. November 30, Trump spoke with Sharif, who according to a Pakistani government readout of their call, invited Trump to visit the south Asian country. The readout said Trump had called Pakistan a “fantastic” country full of “fantastic” people that he “would love” to visit as President.
He had also called Sharif as “terrific” and Pakistanis “are one of the most intelligent people”, according to the Pakistani readout which added that Trump said he is “ready and willing to play any role that you want me to play to address and find solutions to the outstanding problems”. “Should Trump follow through, he risks alienating India, which sees Pakistan as a major antagonist, and appearing to reward Pakistan’s behaviour; should he renege, he risks upsetting Pakistani leaders who are sensitive about perceived American intransigence. Either way, the call could upset the delicate balance of India-Pakistan ties, which the US has struggled to manage amid a history of wars and recent skirmishes,” the New York Times said.
Inset: China protests to US
Beijing: China Saturday lodged a protest with the US over President-elect Donald Trump’s unprecedented telephone talk with Taiwanese leader Tsai Ing-wen, asking Washington to honour its commitment for One-China policy. “China has lodged solemn representations with the US, urging the US to honour its commitment to the One-China policy,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said Saturday. “We have taken note of the relevant reports and made solemn representations about it to the relevant US side. It must be pointed out that there is only one China in the world. Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory,” he said.
Professor fatally stabbed
Los Angeles: A professor was stabbed to death on the University of Southern California campus in Los Angeles Friday and a suspect arrested in his death is a male student, a police spokeswoman said. Los Angeles Police Officer Meghan Aguilar did not immediately release the names of the professor or the student or the suspected motive in the Friday afternoon attack. Los Angeles Fire Department spokeswoman Margaret Stewart said the victim was around 25 years old and was pronounced dead at the scene.
