Trump Advises Taiwan Against Declaring Independence
Donald Trump has cautioned Taiwan against formally declaring independence from China.
"I'm not looking to have somebody go independent," the US president told Fox News on Friday, at the end of his two-day summit with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Beijing.
Earlier, Trump stated he had "made no commitment either way" regarding the self-governing island, which China claims as part of its territory and has not ruled out taking by force.
The United States has long supported Taiwan, including being bound by law to provide it with means of self-defense, but has frequently had to balance this alliance with maintaining diplomatic relations with China.
Washington's established position is that it does not support Taiwanese independence, with continued ties with Beijing contingent on its acceptance that there is only one Chinese government.
Many Taiwanese consider themselves part of a separate nation, though most favor maintaining the status quo in which Taiwan neither declares independence from China nor unites with it.
US Policy on Taiwan Remains Unchanged
In his interview with Fox News, Trump reiterated that US policy on the matter had not changed.
"You know, we're supposed to travel 9,500 miles (1,530km) to fight a war. I'm not looking for that. I want them to cool down. I want China to cool down."
On the flight back to Washington, the US president told reporters that he and Xi had spoken "a lot" about the island but declined to discuss whether the US would defend it.
Trump said Xi "feels very strongly" about the island and "doesn't want to see a movement for independence."
"The Taiwan question is the most important issue in China-US relations," Xi warned during the talks, according to Chinese state media, adding: "If mishandled, the two nations could collide or even come into conflict."
When asked if he foresaw a 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."
Rising Tensions and Military Sales
China has increased military drills around Taiwan in recent years, raising regional tensions and testing the balance Washington has struck.
Late last year, the Trump administration announced an $11 billion package of weapons to be sold to Taiwan, including advanced rocket launchers and various missiles, which Beijing condemned.
Trump said he would soon decide whether that sale could proceed, adding that he and Xi had discussed it "in great detail" and that he would speak to Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te first.
"I may do it. I may not do it," he told Fox News.
"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'."
US-China Relations and Taiwan's Position
The US has previously provoked anger from China for seeming to soften its stance on independence.
Its State Department removed a statement from its website reiterating Washington's opposition to Taiwanese independence in February 2025, which Beijing said "sends a wrong... signal to separatist forces."
US officials in Taiwan stated at the time:
"We have long stated that we oppose any unilateral changes to the status quo from either side."
Taiwan's Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung said his team had been monitoring the US-China summit and maintained good communication with the US and other countries "to ensure the stable deepening of Taiwan-US relations and safeguard Taiwan's interests."
He added that Taiwan has always been a " of peace and stability" in the region and accused China of escalating risk with its "aggressive military actions and authoritarian oppression."
