Taiwan government reaffirmed Saturday that the island was an “independent” nation in response to a stern warning from US President Donald Trump following his visit to Beijing, and reminded the US of their commitment to arms sales to Taiwan.
US policy towards Taiwan involves robust military support without full recognition or open support for independence. China views Taiwan as one of its provinces that it has not yet unified with the rest of its territory.
In an interview before leaving Beijing, where Chinese President Xi Jinping issued strong words regarding Taiwan, Donald Trump warned Taiwan against declaring independence, emphasizing the need to maintain peace.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reacted, stating that Taiwan is a democratic, sovereign, and independent nation not subject to mainland China. They emphasized the importance of US arms sales as a common deterrence against regional threats.
Washington is obligated to provide defensive weapons to Taiwan per the Taiwan Relations Act, passed in 1979, under the condition of Taiwan not declaring independence. The act aims to maintain strategic ambiguity regarding US military intervention in case of a Chinese attack.
In December, the US government approved a significant arms sale to Taiwan, the largest since 2001, to counter the Chinese threat. This prompted months of political struggle in Taiwan, leading to the approval of funds for defense modernization.
Both President Lai Ching-te and opposition parties in Taiwan engaged in debates over military spending, with President Trump emphasizing that US support should not lead to hasty independence declarations.
Further discussions and decisions on US arms sales to Taiwan are pending, with upcoming visits by Xi Jinping to Washington serving as a key test for Sino-American relations. Experts anticipate Chinese pressure on the US to refrain from making any hasty decisions regarding arms sales to Taiwan.
In a rare display of firmness, Xi Jinping warned Trump that the Taiwan issue was crucial in Sino-American relations, emphasizing the need for careful handling to maintain stability or risk conflict between the two nations.
