A recent phone conversation between US president-elect Donald Trump and Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen drew angry protests from China. Subsequently, Beijing warned Washington against a change in its decades-long adherence to the “One China” policy which would result in the recognition of Taiwan as an independent state.

 In 1979, the US cut diplomatic ties with Taiwan, accepting that there is only one China, and that Taiwan is part of it. However, with the election of Donald Trump, the continuation of that policy remains in doubt.

Is Trump really flexing his muscles in dealing with Beijing or is he only bluffing? Press TV has sought the views of author and former US diplomat, Michael Springmann, and Fredrick Peterson, a senior congressional defense advisor.

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Fredrick Peterson maintains that there is no rational justification for the US to remain loyal to its previous ‘One China’ policy in a situation wherein Beijing is threatening the existence of Washington’s allies in the region with its aggression.

This “has been a verbal obeisance given to the status quo relationship that we used to call the ‘One China’ policy, a red China and a free China. If you recall those words were in common parlance for many years and yet a ‘One China’ policy meant a policy of non-aggression and a policy of peace within the region,” Peterson said.

What the world is seeing today is that China is emerging more aggressive not only towards Taiwan but also towards all of its neighbors through challenging sea lanes of communication and commerce and showing an ever-increasing militarism, the analyst opined, adding that this has happen due to the United States’ poor leadership.

Meanwhile, Michael Springmann, the other guest on the show, maintained that tensions in South East Asia stemmed from Washington’s unnecessary interventions rather than China’s policies.

It is not China that is making aggressive moves in the area, Springmann noted, rather the United States under Barack Obama and his ‘Pivot to Asia’ which is pushing countries like the Philippines towards confrontation with China over the contentious islands in the South China Sea.

He further argued that according to international law, when there is no treaty or agreement, contentious islands belong to the country which already controls them and, thus, no one can question China’s ownership of the South China Sea islands.

“Unlike the United States which huffs and puffs and sends supposed underwater drones into Chinese waters, China and the Philippines have agreed by diplomacy to have talks about the resolution of any territorial claims in the region. So, I think that the problem is the United States and not China.”