Trump warns Taiwan against declaring independence after talks with Xi Jinping
Photo: US President Donald Trump (Getty Images)
US President Donald Trump said he does not support an official declaration of Taiwan's independence and wants to avoid escalation in relations with China, according to the BBC.
The US president made the statement after a two-day summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing.
"I'm not looking to have somebody go independent," Trump stressed.
At the same time, Trump emphasized that Washington's policy toward Taiwan has not changed. The US continues to support Taipei and is legally required to provide it with self-defense capabilities, but it does not officially support Taiwan's independence.
He also said the US does not want a war with China.
"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," he said.
According to the US president, Xi Jinping reacted "very strongly" during the talks on the Taiwan issue and opposed any move toward the island’s independence.
The Chinese leader, according to Chinese state media, told Trump that "the Taiwan question is the most important issue in China-US relations" and warned that a wrong approach could lead to conflict between the two countries.
When asked by journalists whether a military conflict between the US and China over Taiwan is possible, Trump responded negatively.
"No, I don't think so. I think we'll be fine. (Xi - ed.) doesn't want to see a war," the White House chief added.
Taiwan has long been one of the main sources of tension between Washington and Beijing. China considers the island part of its territory and does not rule out the use of force for "reunification."
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te previously said the island does not need to formally declare independence, as Taiwan already considers itself a sovereign state.
At the same time, most Taiwan residents, according to the BBC, support maintaining the current status quo — without an official declaration of independence and without unification with China.
Will the US continue supplying weapons to Taiwan
At the end of 2025, the Trump administration approved an $11 billion arms package for Taiwan, including modern missile systems and missiles. The decision drew a sharp response from Beijing.
Trump said he has not yet decided whether the deal will continue but confirmed that he discussed the issue in detail with Xi Jinping.
In Taiwan, officials urged careful analysis of Trump’s remarks. Deputy Foreign Minister Chen Ming-chi stressed that US arms deliveries to the island are provided for under US law.
"Taiwan-US arms sales have always been a cornerstone of regional peace and stability," he said.
Recall that US President Donald Trump was on a state visit to Beijing. This was the first visit by a US leader to China in nearly nine years — the previous one took place in November 2017 during his first presidential term.
During talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, the sides discussed trade, the war in the Middle East, and the situation around Taiwan.
Xi Jinping warned Trump during the meeting about the risks of a "wrong approach" to the Taiwan issue, calling it one of the key topics in US-China relations.
