washington president donald trump acceptance beijing demand re-commit one china policy heavily influence new top diplomat argue behind scenes relations would remain hold trump clear doubt longtime bedrock u.s.-china tie officials say abrupt course adjustment make public white house statement thursday phone call trump chinese president xi jinping follow white house meet week involve secretary state rex tillerson u.s. officials say speak condition anonymity tillerson join trump national security adviser michael flynn others one administration official describe concert effort persuade president right way go right relationships regional stability day successful intervention tillerson former exxon mobil chief executive previous diplomatic experience confirm nine days ago suggest white house-dominated administration new secretary state could help drive decisions geopolitical issue tillerson sway trump priorities fight islamic state counter iran improve tie russia remain see chinese anger toward trump simmer since december speak president taiwan say unite state stick one china policy washington acknowledge chinese position one china taiwan part beijing consider self-ruled taiwan renegade province china signal washington would phone call trump xi relationship could move forward trump reaffirm one china policy one u.s. officials say u.s.-based china experts say trump change tack help ease tensions open way discussions across board caution suggest soften trump stance issue include contest south china sea threat high tariff chinese goods pressure beijing rein north korea trump acquiescence issue extreme chinese nationalist sensitivity also create risk chinese conclude trump tough rhetoric roll apply sufficient pressure say bonnie glaser center strategic international study white house state department immediate comment speak joint news conference visit japanese prime minister shinzo abe trump signal friday please break ice xi describe call warm conversation also note long complain china currency undervalue predict level play field term trade would reach two countries sooner many people think tillerson emerge role suggest could moderate influence friends adversaries unnerve time trump rhetoric unpredictability secretary state play role craft one china statement immediately clear whether others meet directly trump make case issue another major player issue flynn speak phone china top diplomat yang jiechi feb. source say oil executive tillerson complicate history china regular deal china state-run oil company exxon mobil longtime business interest also develop oil exploration tie vietnam territorial dispute beijing south china sea senate confirmation hear last month tillerson raise chinese ire say china deny access islands build south china sea write responses follow-up question lawmakers surface week confirmation tillerson soften language say event unspecified contingency unite state ally must capable limit china access use islands pose threat new top u.s. diplomat play central role trump 's china shift