In response to Trump, Taiwan says it is ‘independent and independent’ | Donald Trump News

After the visit of the President of the United States Donald Trump to China, the island of Taiwan issued a statement saying that it is “independent and independent”.

But Saturday’s statement added that Taiwan plans to maintain the “cross-strait status quo”, where it will not declare independence from China.

Recommended Articles

list of things 3end of series

The message came in response to an interview Trump gave to Fox News the day before, as he was leaving Beijing meetings and Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

In the interview, Trump said, “I don’t want anybody to be independent,” referring to Taiwan, an island that Beijing claims as its territory.

The issue of Taiwan’s sovereignty has been a hotly contested one, dating back to the Chinese Civil War in the 1940s.

Although the US does not support Taiwan’s claims of independence, successive leaders have supported the island through arms sales and statements that the US could defend Taiwan, should it be attacked by China.

Speaking to Fox News, Trump took a more controversial stance on protecting Taiwan than some of his predecessors.

“You know, we have to travel 9,500 miles to fight. I’m not looking for that. I want them to be cold. I want China to be cold,” Trump said.

“We don’t want a war. If you keep the status quo, I think China will be fine with this. But we don’t want someone to say, ‘Let’s be independent because the United States is helping us.'”

Trump’s visit to China

Tensions between the governments of Taiwan and Beijing were evident during Trump’s recent visit.

Earlier, Chinese media reported that Xi told Trump that Taiwan was “the most important issue in China-US relations”.

“If it doesn’t go well, the two countries may collide or clash, putting the whole relationship between China and the US in serious danger,” Xi said.

Recounting his exchange with the Chinese leader to reporters on Air Force One, Trump he said Xi “feels very strongly” about opposing Taiwan independence.

Trump added that he “hasn’t made any kind of commitment” on the matter.

The US president also said that he has not yet decided whether to sign a new $11bn package for Taiwan, which has already been approved by the US Congress.

“I haven’t accepted it yet. We’ll see what happens,” Trump told Fox News. “I can do it.”

Taiwan says US position ‘unchangeable’

The US has maintained a neutral policy towards Taiwan, not recognizing or maintaining relations with the government in Taipei.

Officially, Washington adheres to the “China China” policy, accepting – although not confirming – Beijing’s view that Taiwan is part of China.

It is also unclear whether the US would defend Taiwan in the event of a war with China.

In 2022, for example, Trump’s predecessor, Joe Biden, seems to have indicated to the news program 60 Minutes that the US will come to Taiwan’s aid: “Yes, if there is an unprecedented attack.”

But the Biden administration retracted the statement, saying there was no change in US policy.

However, Washington regularly provides defense equipment to the island, according to a 1979 law. The US and Taiwan also maintain a trade relationship.

In a statement on Saturday, Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry said US officials and Trump have made it clear that Washington’s policies “will remain unchanged”. He added that Taipei continues to develop relations with the US.

It added that China’s military threats are “definitely indefensible” in the region.

“Arms sales to Taiwan not only provide security for Taiwan,” the statement said, “but also a means of dealing with regional threats.”