In Transition: In a break with 37 years of US diplomatic policy, President-elect Donald Trump spoke on the telephone yesterday with the president of Taiwan. The US cut off formal relations with the island of Taiwan when it formally recognized mainland China as the one true country of China.

The Chinese government filed a formal complaint. China claims to be the true government of Taiwan. Relations with the US have been strained in recent years over China’s move to build up and arm tiny islands in the South China Sea.

Trump tweeted, “Interesting how the U.S. sells Taiwan billions of dollars of military equipment but I should not accept a congratulatory call.”

The Trump organization has explored building a hotel near the airport in Taiwan. Since the election, the Trump organization has largely declined to seek information about foreign policies from the State Department, and Trump himself has skipped national security briefings.

Recount: The President-elect and organizations supporting him have filed lawsuits to block vote recounts in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. The vote margins are narrow in those states, but not narrow enough to be overturned by a recount. You have to appreciate the humor in a candidate who claimed the election was rigged, and that millions of people voted illegally, not wanting a recount.

Econ 101: The US economy added 178,000 jobs last month, bringing the unemployment rate down from 4.9 to 4.6 percent, the lowest since August 2007. In November 2008, when Barack Obama was first elected president, the economy lost 533,000 jobs.

Nation: The jury in the murder trial against South Carolina police officer Michael Slager says it is having a hard time reaching a verdict. Video of the incident clearly shows Slager shooting and killing the unarmed Michael Scott as he ran away. One juror wrote a note to the judge saying, “I understand the position of the court, but I cannot in good conscience consider a guilty verdict. … I expect those who hold opposing views will not change those views.”

>Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, who walked away from his post in Afghanistan and was captured by the Taliban, has asked President Obama to pardon him before leaving office.

>A USC psychology professor was stabbed to death by a student in a campus building yesterday, according to police. It appeard to be a targeted killing, but the motive was not known.

World: Norwegian police say a tipster gave them the location of an entry gate stolen from the infamous Dachau Nazi death camp in 2014. The gate, which has in steel letters the infamous phrase “Arbeit Macht Frei,” or “Work Sets You Free,” was recognized artifacts of the camp.

The Obit Page: Peng Chang-kuei, the Taiwanese chef credited with creating General Tso’s Chicken, a dish featured on just about every Chinese restaurant menu, has died at age 97. The sweet and spicy dish was named after a 19th-century Chinese military leader from Peng’s native Hunan Province.

Disaster Tourism: A Chinese shipbuilder has started building a full-size replica of the Titanic, the passenger ship that hit an iceberg and sank on its maiden voyage in 1912. The ship will be permanently docked at a reservoir in Daying County, in landlocked Sichuan province. Guests will be able to dine, stay overnight on the ship, and experience disaster recreations. “Jack, oh Jack.”

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