United States President, Donald Trump, has warned against any formal move by Taiwan to declare independence from China, making the comments after a high-level meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing.
Speaking to Fox News on Friday at the conclusion of his two-day summit, Trump said: “I’m not looking to have somebody go independent,” signalling caution over any escalation in cross-strait tensions.
Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te has previously maintained that Taiwan already functions as a sovereign state and therefore does not need to formally declare independence.
The United States has long maintained unofficial but strong ties with Taiwan and is legally bound to support its self-defence capabilities, while simultaneously managing a delicate diplomatic relationship with Beijing.
Washington’s long-standing position is that it does not support Taiwanese independence, a stance linked to its “one China” policy framework.
Trump also said he had not taken a firm position on the island’s future status. He earlier remarked that he had “made no commitment either way” regarding Taiwan, which Beijing claims as part of its territory and has not ruled out taking by force.
On his return flight to Washington, Trump said he and Xi had discussed Taiwan extensively but avoided detailing any commitment on US defence obligations toward the island.
He added that Xi “feels very strongly” about the issue and “doesn’t want to see a movement for independence”.
During their talks, Xi reportedly told Trump that “The Taiwan question is the most important issue in China-US relations,” adding: “If mishandled, the two nations could collide or even come into conflict.”
Asked about the possibility of war 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.”
China has intensified military drills near Taiwan in recent years, increasing regional tensions and testing Washington’s balancing act between deterrence and diplomacy.
Late last year, the Trump administration approved an $11bn (£8bn) arms package for Taiwan, including advanced rocket systems and missiles, a move strongly criticised by Beijing.
Trump said he would decide soon whether to proceed with the deal, noting he had discussed it “in great detail” with Xi.
He also suggested he would consult “the person that right now is, you know, you know who he is, that’s running Taiwan,” before moving forward with key decisions.
The US does not maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, though it continues extensive unofficial engagement. Direct contact between US presidents and Taiwan’s leadership is uncommon and often triggers strong reactions from Beijing, which views Lai as a separatist figure.
Taiwan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Chen Ming-chi said the island would seek clarification on Trump’s remarks, while stressing that US arms sales remain grounded in US law.
“Taiwan-US arms sales have always been a cornerstone of regional peace and stability,” he added.
Trump also 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.’”
The US has previously faced criticism from Beijing over perceived shifts in its stance on Taiwanese independence, including the removal in early 2025 of a State Department statement reiterating opposition to independence, an action China said “sends a wrong… signal to separatist forces”.
Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung said Taipei had been closely monitoring developments from the US-China summit and maintaining communication with Washington and other partners “to ensure the stable deepening of Taiwan-US relations and safeguard Taiwan’s interests”.
He added that Taiwan remains committed to regional stability, while accusing Beijing of heightening tensions through “aggressive military actions and authoritarian oppression”.
