The White House on Friday said there was ‘no change’ to the United States’ longstanding ‘one China’ policy after President-elect Donald Trump spoke with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen.

‘We remain firmly committed to our ‘one China’ policy,’ said Ned Price, a national security spokesman for President Barack Obama. ‘Our fundamental interest is in peaceful and stable cross-Strait relations.’

US President-elect Donald Trump on Friday defended in a series of tweets his decision to break with decades of American diplomatic precedent by speaking with Taiwan’s leader.

‘The President of Taiwan CALLED ME today to wish me congratulations on winning the Presidency. Thank you!’ Trump said in a first tweet.

An hour later, he fired off a second post: ‘Interesting how the US sells Taiwan billions of dollars of military equipment but I should not accept a congratulatory call.’