Taiwan President congratulates Trump after being sworn in as 45th U.S. President

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen has congratulated Donald Trump after he was sworn in as the 45th President of the United States on Friday, a move which is likely to infuriate China.

"Congratulations @realDonaldTrump. Democracy is what ties Taiwan and the US together. Look forward to advancing our friendship & partnership," Tsai tweeted.

Trump had angered China last year when he accepted a phone call from President Tsai Ing-wen.

The call was thought to be the first between the leader of the island and the US President since ties between the United State and Taiwan were severed in 1979, at Beijing's behest.

The US closed its embassy in Taiwan - a democratically-ruled island which China considers a breakaway province - in the late 1970s following the historic rapprochement between Beijing and Washington that stemmed from Richard Nixon's 1972 trip to China.

Since then the US has adhered to the 'one China' principle which officially considers the independently governed island part of the Chinese mainland.