The Pentagon increases the frequency of movement through the Taiwan Strait despite opposition from China.

A French warship passed through the strategic Taiwan Strait this month, U.S. officials told Reuters, a rare voyage by a vessel of a European country that is likely to be welcomed by Washington but increase tensions with Beijing.

The United States sent Navy and Coast Guard ships through the Taiwan Strait on Sunday, the military said, as the United States increases the frequency of movement through the strategic waterway despite opposition from China.

Policies outlive presidents’ terms because they are in America’s own interests. Trump’s personal style has proved to work well in appealing to voters he needed to get him elected this year. But it will not work that well in appealing to the world when he is in the White House. We must hope that he works to grasp the subtleties of international relations more quickly than his spontaneous style suggests is likely.

Consolidation and development of KMT-CPC ties and stability of forces recognizing the 1992 Consensus within KMT are critical for cross-Strait relations to enjoy peace and continuity. It remains to be seen whether Hu’s commitment to a one-China policy can unify her party now that it’s out of power in Taiwan.

Tsai Ing-wen was sworn in Friday as the president of Taiwan, becoming the island’s first female leader.

China and Taiwan began operating the first telephone hotline between the two nations on Wednesday, set up as a confidence building and tension reducing measure, with senior officials exchanging New Year's greetings.

The Obama administration is expected as soon as this week to authorize the sale of two guided missile frigates to Taiwan, U.S. congressional sources said on Monday, in spite of China's opposition to the deal.