While Mr Donald Trump is not the first incoming Republican president to question the One China policy, his suggestion that it could be used as a chip to change Chinese behaviour sets him apart and could have implications for Washington’s relationship with both Beijing and Taipei, experts said.

Not since 1972, when US President Richard Nixon and Chinese leader Mao Zedong enshrined the One China principle in the Shanghai Communique, has a US president or president-elect so publicly and explicitly questioned the agreement, which resulted in the United States’ ending its diplomatic recognition of Taiwan in 1979.

Indeed, Taiwan itself will be cautious if the incoming Trump government were to use the island as a bargaining chip against the Chinese.

This is because Taipei will be mindful that Beijing might want to punish it rather than take action against Washington, said Dr Ian Storey, a senior fellow with the ISEAS Yusof Ishak Institute.

… Ms Angela Poh, a China researcher from the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), said Beijing will not tolerate any deviation by Washington from its One China policy once Mr Trump takes office in January.

“China will not hesitate to use military signalling to respond if necessary,” she added.