Taiwan asserts sovereignty and status quo following Trump-Xi meeting
Taipei reaffirms its commitment to the cross-strait status quo while citing China’s military threat as the primary regional insecurity, despite President Donald Trump’s ambiguous stance on defence commitments and arms sales.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement declaring the island “sovereign and independent” while affirming its commitment to maintaining the cross-strait status quo. The declaration followed US President Donald Trump’s visit to China and his subsequent interview with Fox News, in which he expressed reluctance to support Taiwanese independence and indicated he had not yet approved a $11bn arms package to Taiwan. Taipei stated that US policy remains unchanged and that it intends to deepen ties with the US, citing China’s military threat as the primary regional insecurity.
During his meetings with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing, Trump stated he had made no commitment regarding Taiwan’s political status. He told Fox News he had not yet signed off on a new $11bn arms package to Taiwan, which has already been approved by the US Congress, stating, “I may do it. I may not do it.” The US president also noted he did not wish to travel 9,500 miles to fight a war, urging both sides to “cool down” to avoid conflict.
Xi Jinping reportedly told Trump that Taiwan was the “most important issue in China-US relations” and warned that mishandling the issue could lead to conflict. Trump recounted to reporters on Air Force One that Xi “feels very strongly” about his opposition to Taiwanese independence. The US president added that he had made no commitment either way on the issue, reflecting a more ambivalent approach to defending Taiwan than some of his predecessors.
The US has long maintained a policy of strategic ambiguity on Taiwan, not formally recognising or maintaining ties with the government in Taipei. Officially, Washington adheres to the “One China” policy, acknowledging — though not affirming — Beijing’s position that Taiwan is part of China. The US has also been vague about whether it would come to Taiwan’s defence in the event of military action by China, a stance that has seen previous administrations face scrutiny over statements regarding defence commitments.
In its statement on Saturday, Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the US officials and President Trump have made clear that Washington’s policy “remains unchanged”. It added that Taipei continues to deepen ties with the US. It further called China’s military threat “the only real insecurity” in the region, asserting that arms sales to Taiwan are not only a security commitment but also a joint deterrent against regional threats.
