Advertisement
Former US President Donald Trump has said that Chinese President Xi Jinping personally told him China would not invade Taiwan while Trump was in office. Trump made this claim in an interview with Fox News, just before his planned talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin about the war in Ukraine.
Trump explained that during his discussions with Xi, the Chinese leader assured him there would be no move against Taiwan as long as Trump was president. According to Trump, Xi even told him, “I will never do it as long as you are president.” Trump said he appreciated the assurance, but Xi also reminded him that China is very patient and can wait for the right time.
The two leaders spoke in June during Trump’s second term, which was their first confirmed call of that period. Trump also mentioned Xi had phoned him earlier in April, though he did not share when exactly that call happened.
The issue of Taiwan is extremely sensitive in China-US relations. China sees Taiwan as part of its territory and has vowed to reunite the island with the mainland, even by force if necessary. Taiwan, however, rejects China’s claims and insists on governing itself as a democratic and independent entity.
The Chinese Embassy in Washington responded by saying Taiwan is “the most important and sensitive issue” between the two countries. The spokesperson urged the US to stick to the one-China policy and act carefully in matters related to Taiwan to maintain peace and stability.
The United States, while being Taiwan’s main arms supplier and strongest supporter on the international stage, does not officially recognize Taiwan as a separate country. Like most nations, it has no formal diplomatic ties with the island, but it plays a critical role in Taiwan’s defense.
In Taiwan, Trump’s remarks drew mixed reactions. While some lawmakers expressed gratitude for support from the US, others stressed that Taiwan’s security cannot depend on promises from China or even on help from allies. A senior member of Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party said the most important step is to strengthen Taiwan’s own defense, as relying only on external assurances is too risky.