United States President Donald Trump has asserted that Chinese President Xi Jinping has assured him that China will refrain from taking military action regarding Taiwan while he remains in office. During a recent CBS 60 Minutes interview, Trump stated that the sensitive subject of Taiwan did not arise during their first face-to-face meeting in six years, which took place in South Korea. The discussion primarily revolved around ongoing trade tensions between the US and China.
Trump emphasized that Xi and his team indicated, “We would never do anything while President Trump is president,” acknowledging their awareness of potential consequences. The conversation led to questions about Trump’s response should China decide to act militarily against Taiwan. While Trump did not specify his intentions, he mentioned, “You’ll find out if it happens,” suggesting that Xi is aware of the US’s stance without giving further details.
The US maintains a policy of “strategic ambiguity” with respect to Taiwan, aimed at neither fully committing to military intervention nor completely ruling it out. This approach has been consistent across both Republican and Democratic administrations. The Taiwan Relations Act of 1979 governs US engagement with Taiwan, asserting that while military intervention is not mandated, the US is committed to ensuring that Taiwan is equipped to defend itself.
Chinese Embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu did not directly address Trump’s claims regarding assurances from Xi. Instead, he reiterated China’s unyielding stance that Taiwan is an internal issue and that the resolution lies solely in the hands of the Chinese people.
The White House has yet to clarify specifics regarding any communications between Trump and Chinese officials pertaining to Taiwan. Notably, this interview marks Trump’s return to CBS 60 Minutes after previously settling a lawsuit with the network regarding an interview with then-Vice-President Kamala Harris, which he criticized for alleged deceptive editing.
This interaction underscores ongoing tensions in US-China relations, particularly concerning Taiwan, while also illustrating the careful diplomatic discourse surrounding a region of significant geopolitical interest.