In a recent interview with Fox News, former President Donald Trump revealed that Chinese President Xi Jinping assured him China would not invade Taiwan while he holds office. Trump’s remarks come amid heightened tensions between China and Taiwan and precede his discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding Moscow’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
According to Trump, during their discussions, Xi told him that he was very sure that Taiwan was stable with him being president. “I will never do it as long as you’re president,” Trump quoted Xi as saying. He went on to elaborate that he and Xi both are patient when it comes to resolving the situation in Taiwan. “I am very patient, and China is very patient,” Trump added, indicating a strategic approach from both nations.
Taiwan continues to be a thorny point of contention in U.S.-China relations. True, the United States does not officially recognize Taiwan as an independent state. Yet it remains the island’s informal sword and shield, playing a critical role in supplying military arms internationally. The Communist Party of China is hell bent on taking back Taiwan under its control. It has pledged to “reunify” with the island and has not ruled out doing so by military force.
Meanwhile, the Taiwanese government has so far declined to give an official reply to Trump’s remarks. Wang Ting-yu, a senior Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party lawmaker, thanking Americans for their congressional support. He’s a distinguished member of Taiwan’s legislature and appreciates the support from the United States. Most crucially, he stressed the need for self-reliance in defense affairs.
“However … Security cannot rely on the enemy’s promise, nor can it rely solely on the help from friends. Strengthening our own defense capability is fundamental!” – Wang Ting-yu
Liu Pengyu, the spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, underscored Taiwan’s importance. At the time, he declared it to be “the most important and the most sensitive issue” in U.S.-China relations. The South China Sea Militarization The resurfacing tensions over Taiwan’s status and China’s goal to reassert control have kept these ties candidly under pressure.
