US President Donald Trump has warned against any formal move towards Taiwanese independence following high-level talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing.
Speaking to Fox News at the conclusion of his two-day summit in China, Trump said he was not seeking a situation where Taiwan formally separates itself from Beijing.
“I’m not looking to have somebody go independent,” Trump said, while reiterating that Washington’s longstanding policy on Taiwan had not changed.
The comments came amid continued tensions between China and Taiwan, which Beijing considers part of its territory and has repeatedly vowed could eventually be reunified by force if necessary.
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te has previously argued that Taiwan does not need to officially declare independence because the island already considers itself a sovereign nation.
Although the United States maintains no formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, Washington remains legally obligated to provide the self-governing island with defensive support under existing US law.
During the interview, Trump stressed that he wanted tensions in the region to cool down rather than escalate into military conflict.
He also confirmed that Taiwan was discussed extensively during his meetings with Xi, although he declined to say whether the US would militarily defend Taiwan in the event of war with China.
According to Chinese state media, Xi warned Trump that the Taiwan issue remains the most sensitive matter in China-US relations and cautioned that mishandling the situation could potentially lead to direct conflict between both powers.
Trump, however, said he did not believe war over Taiwan was inevitable, adding that Xi also wanted to avoid armed conflict.
The US president further stated that maintaining the current status quo was likely the best path forward and warned against any attempt to push for formal Taiwanese independence under the assumption of guaranteed US backing.
In recent years, China has significantly increased military exercises and pressure around Taiwan, raising concerns among regional allies and global powers over possible future confrontation.
The issue has also complicated US-China relations, especially after Washington announced a major arms package for Taiwan late last year involving advanced missiles and rocket systems — a move strongly condemned by Beijing.
Trump said he would soon decide whether the proposed US$11 billion weapons deal with Taiwan would proceed, revealing that the matter had also been discussed in detail with Xi during the Beijing summit.
Meanwhile, Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung said Taipei had been closely monitoring developments from the summit while maintaining communication with Washington and other allies to safeguard Taiwan’s interests and regional stability.
Lin also accused China of increasing tensions through military pressure and authoritarian actions around the island.
