Highlights:
- Donald Trump warned Taiwan against formally declaring independence after talks with Xi Jinping in Beijing.
- Trump said the United States wants stability in the Taiwan Strait and does not want conflict with China.
- Xi described Taiwan as the “most important issue” in US-China relations.
- The Trump administration is reviewing an $11 billion arms package for Taiwan.
- Taiwan said US weapons sales remain important for regional peace and security.
- Trump says Taiwan independence could increase tensions with China
US President Donald Trump warned Taiwan against formally declaring independence from China following a two-day summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing.
Speaking to Fox News on Friday, Trump said, “I’m not looking to have somebody go independent.” The remarks came after discussions between the two leaders focused on Taiwan, trade relations, regional security, and broader US-China tensions.
Trump said the United States is seeking stability in the region and wants to avoid military conflict involving Taiwan. He stressed that Washington’s position on Taiwan had not changed despite growing tensions between Beijing and Taipei.
“You know, we’re supposed to travel 9,500 miles (15,289km) to fight a war. I’m not looking for that. I want them to cool down. I want China to cool down,” Trump told Fox News.
The Taiwan issue remains one of the most sensitive subjects in relations between the United States and China. Beijing considers Taiwan part of its territory and has repeatedly said it could use force if necessary to bring the island under Chinese control.
Taiwan, meanwhile, operates as a self-governing democracy. Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te has previously argued that Taiwan does not need to formally declare independence because it already functions as a sovereign state.
Trump discusses Taiwan during Xi meeting
Trump later told reporters aboard Air Force One that he and Xi had spoken “a lot” about Taiwan during the Beijing summit. However, he declined to say whether the United States would militarily defend Taiwan if China launched an attack.
Trump said Xi “feels very strongly” about Taiwan and “doesn’t want to see a movement for independence.”
According to Chinese state media, Xi used the meeting to emphasize the importance of Taiwan in bilateral relations with Washington.
“The Taiwan question is the most important issue in China-US relations,” Xi reportedly told Trump during the talks.
Xi also warned that tensions over Taiwan could escalate if not handled carefully. “If mishandled, the two nations could collide or even come into conflict,” he said.
When asked whether he expected a future military conflict with China over Taiwan, Trump responded: “No, I don’t think so. I think we’ll be fine. [Xi] doesn’t want to see a war.”
Trump administration reviewing Taiwan weapons package
The Trump administration previously announced an $11 billion weapons package for Taiwan that includes missile systems and advanced rocket launchers. The proposed sale drew criticism from Beijing, which opposes US military support for Taiwan.
Trump said the issue was discussed extensively during his talks with Xi and confirmed that a decision on the weapons package would be made soon.
“I’m going to say I have to speak to the person that right now is, you know, you know who he is, that’s running Taiwan,” Trump said.
The United States does not officially recognize Taiwan diplomatically under the longstanding “One China” policy, which recognizes Beijing as the sole legal government of China. However, Washington continues to maintain unofficial ties with Taiwan and is legally obligated under US law to provide defensive support to the island.
For decades, US administrations have maintained a policy of strategic ambiguity regarding whether American forces would directly defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese attack.
Trump says US wants peace and no war over Taiwan
Trump repeatedly emphasized that the United States is seeking peace and stability rather than confrontation with China.
“We’re not looking to have wars, and if you kept it the way it is, I think China’s going to be OK with that. But we’re not looking to have somebody say, ‘Let’s go independent because the United States is backing us,’” Trump said.
China has increased military drills and naval activity around Taiwan in recent years, raising concerns among US allies and regional governments about the possibility of escalation in the Taiwan Strait.
Taiwan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Chen Ming-chi said Taipei would need to better understand Trump’s remarks regarding Taiwan independence and US policy.
At the same time, Chen defended continued US military support for Taiwan, saying American weapons sales remain important for maintaining stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
“Taiwan-US arms sales have always been a cornerstone of regional peace and stability,” Chen said.
A spokesperson for President Lai also defended the security relationship between Washington and Taipei, saying US arms sales are part of the “US security commitment” to Taiwan and “serve as a shared deterrent against regional threats.”
The latest Trump-Xi discussions highlight how Taiwan remains a major flashpoint in relations between the world’s two largest economies, with both sides attempting to avoid direct conflict while maintaining sharply different positions on the island’s future.
