Texas Gov. Greg Abbott met with Taiwan's president, gave her a very awkward present

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott committed a cultural faux pas with Taiwan president
(Image credit: Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

On Sunday, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) met separately in Houston with Taiwanese President President Tsai Ing-wen, despite admonitions from China's consulate. The U.S. has not had diplomatic relations with Taiwan since 1979, formally subscribing to Beijing's bedrock "one China" policy, and President-elect Donald Trump's phone call with Tsai after his election already put China-U.S. relations on rocky footing.

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.