Trump made these remarks during an interview with Fox News that was conducted just before his expected meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin about the ongoing war in Ukraine. In the discussion, Trump shared that Chinese President Xi Jinping had given him a clear assurance that China would not attempt to invade Taiwan while Trump remained in power. He described this statement as a personal pledge from Xi, which, in Trump’s view, guaranteed a period of stability in East Asia during his administration, highlighting the significance of personal diplomacy in easing global tensions.
In the interview, Trump compared the circumstances of Russia’s military action against Ukraine with the tense and fragile relationship between China and Taiwan. He expressed his certainty that a Chinese invasion of Taiwan was unlikely to happen while he held office. Trump recalled the words of Xi, who had explicitly told him that China would refrain from taking such steps during Trump’s presidency. Trump responded to this assurance positively, saying he appreciated the sentiment, though Xi also added that both he and China had the patience to wait, which emphasized Beijing’s long-term and careful approach to its goals.
Trump also revealed that he and Xi had spoken earlier in June during his second term as president, which marked their first direct phone call at that stage of his leadership. He further noted that Xi had initiated contact with him in April as well, although Trump did not specify the exact timing of that earlier communication. These points illustrated how the two leaders maintained channels of dialogue despite rising geopolitical challenges. Their interactions reflected a cautious yet deliberate attempt to manage relations and prevent any sudden escalation that might destabilize regional peace.
China has long maintained its firm stance that Taiwan is an inseparable part of its territory and has repeatedly underlined its determination to achieve reunification with the island. Chinese authorities have consistently stated that they are prepared to use military force if necessary to accomplish this objective. Taiwan, however, strongly rejects these claims over its sovereignty and continues to uphold its own democratic political system. This disagreement stands as one of the central reasons behind the rising levels of tension across the Taiwan Strait, making it one of the most sensitive flashpoints in global geopolitics.
In Washington, the Chinese Embassy reiterated this long-standing position once again on Friday, stressing that Taiwan remains the single most important and highly sensitive issue in the entire framework of China-US relations. Embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu urged the United States to fully respect its commitments under the one-China principle as well as the three joint communiqués that define US-China relations. Liu further warned Washington to approach all Taiwan-related matters with extreme caution while taking responsibility for safeguarding the stability of bilateral ties and maintaining peace in the Taiwan Strait region, which continues to face constant strain.
Although the United States is widely recognized as Taiwan’s biggest arms supplier and one of its most consistent supporters on the global stage, Washington does not maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taipei. Similar to most other nations in the world, the US adheres to the one-China policy, which complicates its dealings with Taiwan. This situation illustrates the complexity of the triangular relationship involving Washington, Beijing, and Taipei. The balance involves supporting Taiwan’s security and democracy while simultaneously avoiding a complete break with China, which remains a major global power and critical economic partner for the United States.
The government of Taiwan has not yet released any official response to Trump’s statements, but one of its senior lawmakers did comment on the matter. Wang Ting-yu, a legislator from the Democratic Progressive Party who serves on Taiwan’s defense and foreign affairs committee, expressed appreciation for the support shown by Taiwan’s allies, including the United States. However, he made it clear that Taiwan cannot rely solely on such external assurances for its protection. Instead, he stressed that the island must focus on developing and strengthening its own defense capabilities, which will remain the foundation of its long-term security and survival in the face of continuous threats from China.
