President Donald Trump says he will speak directly with Taiwanese President Lai Ching Te, in a move that could anger China and destroy the already-fragile relationship between Washington and Beijing.

Following America’s severance of ties with Taiwan in 1979 to recognise China’s sovereignty, no U.S. president has ever spoken to Taiwan’s president.

Discussions between both countries have been handled by aides and other government officials or through encrypted messaging apps like Telegram without any involvement from both presidents.

This was the norm until 2016, when Mr Trump —-as president-elect —- deviated from the decades-old arrangement to speak with the then Taiwanese leader, Tsai Ing-wen, who had called to congratulate him for winning the elections.

Responding to reporters who asked about the pending U.S. $14 billion arms sale to Taiwan, Mr Trump said he will discuss the deal directly with Mr Lai.

“I’ll speak to him,” Mr Trump said on Wednesday while fielding questions from journalists. “I speak to everybody…..We’ll work on that, the Taiwan problem.”

This marked the second time in a week when the American leader mentioned the possibility of a phone call with his Taiwanese colleague.

The move could provoke China’s ire and reignite a simmering economic war between both countries. Beijing has long viewed Taipei as an archenemy and laid claims to its territory.

The first time Mr Trump mentioned speaking with Mr Lai, was during his return trip from China while aboard Air Force One.

“I have to speak to the person that right now is — you know who he is — that’s running Taiwan,” he said, referencing Mr Lai.

Taipei has already responded saying Mr Lai would welcome a conversation with the American president.