The president said, “I don’t want someone to declare independence and, you know, then we are supposed to travel 15,000 kilometers to go to war.”
The government of Taiwan stated on Saturday, May 16th that the island is an “independent” nation, in response to warnings from U.S. President Donald Trump against any declaration of independence that could trigger a war with Beijing.
“In terms of arms sales between Taiwan and the United States, it is not only a commitment by the United States to Taiwan’s security, clearly stipulated in the Taiwan Relations Act, but also a form of common deterrence against regional threats,” the Taiwanese ministry emphasized.
On Thursday, Chinese President Xi Jinping warned Donald Trump, “The Taiwan issue is the most important in Sino-U.S. relations. If handled properly, relations between the two countries (China and the United States) can remain generally stable. If mishandled, the two countries will clash or even enter conflict.”
China considers Taiwan one of its provinces, which it has not managed to unify with the rest of its territory since the end of the Chinese Civil War in 1949. China advocates for a peaceful solution while reserving the right to use force.
