US President Donald Trump urged Taiwan to avoid a formal declaration of independence following his high-stakes summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping. During a Friday interview with Fox News, Trump emphasized his desire for regional stability.
“I’m not looking to have somebody go independent,” Trump stated, expressing a clear preference for de-escalating tensions. The President noted that he wants both sides to “cool down” to avoid a distant conflict.
Maintaining the Delicate Balance
Washington traditionally maintains a complex relationship with the self-governing island. While US law mandates the provision of self-defense equipment, the government officially recognizes only one Chinese government. Beijing continues to claim Taiwan as its territory. Furthermore, China refuses to rule out the use of force to achieve unification.
Xi Jinping described the Taiwan issue as the most critical point in US-China relations during the talks. According to state media, Xi warned that mishandling this matter could lead the two nations to “collide or even come into conflict.” Consequently, Trump reiterated that US policy remains unchanged, signaling that Beijing might accept the current situation if Taiwan refrains from seeking independence based on US backing. “We’re not looking to have wars,” he added.
Focus on Regional Stability
Meanwhile, Taipei monitors these developments closely, as Taiwan’s Foreign Minister, Lin Chia-lung, described the island as a “guardian of peace.” He accused Beijing of escalating risks through aggressive military drills. Most Taiwanese citizens currently favor the status quo, which avoids both formal independence and unification.
Additionally, Trump addressed a proposed $11 billion arms sale to Taiwan, noting that he and Xi discussed the package in great detail. The President expects to decide soon whether to proceed with the sale of advanced missiles, mentioning the need to speak with the leader running Taiwan.
The US currently lacks formal diplomatic ties with Taipei. Traditionally, US presidents avoid direct communication with Taiwan’s leader to prevent significant tensions with Beijing. However, Trump indicated that maintaining the current balance serves the interests of all parties.
