Taiwan responds to Donald Trump. The Taiwanese government asserted on Saturday that the island is a “independent nation,” in response to statements made by the American president, warning him against any declaration of independence that could trigger a war with Beijing.
“Taiwan is a democratic, sovereign, and independent nation, which is not subordinate to the People’s Republic of China,” the Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a press release, stating that Washington’s policy remained “unchanged.”
In an interview recorded shortly before his departure from Beijing, where Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered strong words regarding Taiwan, Donald Trump warned Taiwan on Friday against any declaration of independence.
“I don’t want someone to declare independence and then we are supposed to travel 15,000 km to go to war,” the American president stated on Fox News, urging Taipei and Beijing to “cool down.”
No decision on arms sales
“We don’t want someone to say, let’s declare independence because the United States supports us,” he emphasized, adding that he has not yet made a decision on American arms sales to Taiwan.
“With regard to arms sales between Taiwan and the United States, it is not only a commitment of the United States to Taiwan’s security, clearly provided for by the Taiwan Relations Act, but also a form of mutual deterrence against regional threats,” the Taiwanese ministry insisted on this matter.
On Thursday, with unusual firmness, Xi Jinping warned Donald Trump: “The Taiwan issue is the most important in Sino-American relations. If it is handled properly, the relations between the two countries (China and the United States) can remain generally stable. If it is mishandled, the two countries will collide, even escalate to conflict.”
China considers Taiwan as one of its provinces, which it has not been able to reunify with the rest of its territory since the end of the Chinese Civil War in 1949. It advocates for a peaceful solution while reserving the option to use force.
