U.S. President Donald Trump warned Taiwan against formally declaring independence, but within hours the island reiterated that it considers itself a “sovereign and independent state.” According to an AFP report published on Saturday, Trump made the remarks shortly after concluding his visit to Beijing, where Chinese President Xi Jinping urged him not to support Taiwan. China has long claimed Taiwan as part of its territory, while Taipei continues to rely heavily on U.S. security assistance to counter potential military pressure from Beijing. In an official statement, Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry declared that “Taiwan is a sovereign, independent and democratic state and is not subordinate to the People’s Republic of China.” The ministry also stressed that U.S. arms sales to Taiwan are part of Washington’s long-standing security commitments, despite recent indications from Trump that he may reconsider the issue. Speaking on Fox News’ “Special Report with Bret Baier,” Trump said he does not want Taiwan to declare independence and added that he is not eager to engage in a war thousands of miles away. Although the United States officially recognizes only the government in Beijing and does not formally support Taiwanese independence, Washington has also avoided explicitly opposing it in the past. Under U.S. law, America is obligated to provide Taiwan with defensive weapons, though it has maintained strategic ambiguity over whether it would directly intervene militarily in the event of a conflict. During the Beijing meeting, Xi warned Trump that any misstep on the Taiwan issue could trigger serious confrontation. However, Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te argued that Taiwan is already effectively independent and therefore does not need a formal declaration. Ahead of the summit, Trump also stated that he would discuss U.S. weapons sales to Taiwan with Xi Jinping, marking a shift from Washington’s previous stance that such matters were not subject to Beijing’s approval. Taiwan’s parliament recently approved a $25 billion defense budget, much of which is expected to be spent on purchasing American weapons. While returning to Washington on Friday, Trump told reporters that he would make a decision on the matter very soon. Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry said the arms support is not only part of U.S. security commitments to Taiwan but also a key element of broader regional deterrence efforts. China, meanwhile, has repeatedly stated that it is prepared to use force if necessary to bring Taiwan under its control and has significantly increased military pressure around the island in recent years.
Taiwan says ‘we are independent’ despite Trump’s warning
