Whether by design or by accident, China's perception of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has changed -- likely for the worse -- after Trump broke 37 years of protocol by speaking to the President of the Republic of China (RoC).

No U.S. President has spoken personally to any Taiwanese president since the U.S. severed diplomatic relations with Taiwan in 1979 after adopting the "One China" policy in 1972 that recognized Beijing as the sole Chinese state despite the existence of two governments.

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The avoidance of any personal communication between the presidents of both countries is because of the One China policy.

Trump's phone conversation with RoC President Tsai Ing-wen, which the White House said was made by Ms Tsai, is the first between a U.S. president or president-elect and a Taiwanese president in over three decades.

Trump administration officials confirmed the president-elect did speak with President Tsai. They said Trump "noted the close economic, political, and security ties" between Taiwan and the United States.

Trump later tweeted: "The President of Taiwan CALLED ME today to wish me congratulations on winning the Presidency. Thank you!

"Interesting how the US sells Taiwan billions of dollars of military equipment but I should not accept a congratulatory call."

Trump said it was hypocritical for Washington to provide Taipei with weapons but prevent the U.S. and Taiwanese leaders from communicating.

Taiwanese officials said President Tsai did congratulate Trump on his election victory, and also shared her ideas on other matters such as Taiwan's domestic economy and national defense. The U.S. is legally bound by treaties to defend Taiwan in the event of war with China.

"The two briefly exchanged views on affairs in Asia," said the office of Presdident Tsai in a statement.

"President Tsai hopes to step up bilateral interactions and connections and to establish closer co-operative relations."

China reacted in measured steps to the affront, first by dismissing the phone conversation as a "petty action" and a "shenanigan from the Taiwan side," but hours later lodging an official complaint with the U.S.

China has always considered Taiwan a part of China and a renegade province it's promised to return to the mainland one way or the other.

"We have noticed relevant reports and lodged solemn representation with the relevant side in the United States," said a statement from China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued Dec. 3.

"I must point out that there is only one China in the world and Taiwan is an inseparable part of the Chinese territory ... The 'One China' principle is the political foundation of China-US relations.

"We urge the relevant side in the US to adhere to the 'One China' policy, abide by the pledges in the three joint China-US communiques, and handle issues related to Taiwan carefully and properly to avoid causing unnecessary interference to the overall China-U.S. relationship."

President Tsai is anathema to Beijing because of her insistence on Taiwan being a separate state and not a province of China, and her opposition to the "One China Principle" and the "1992 Consensus" agreed to by previous Taiwanese administrations.

The One China Principle means Taiwan and China agree to interpret the meaning of this principle according to their own individual definition. On the other hand, President Tsai disagrees with the 1992 Consensus as the basis for negotiations between Taiwan and mainland China.

She argues the consensus only serves to reinforce the "One China Principle." She is also adamant "no such consensus exists" because most Taiwanese don't agree with it. 

Tagsdonald trump, Tsai Ing-wen, Republic of China, Taiwan, china, One China policy