US President Donald Trump warned Taiwan against formally declaring independence from China following a two-day summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, underscoring Washington’s longstanding position on the sensitive issue while seeking to ease regional tensions.
Speaking to Fox News on Friday, Trump said, “I'm not looking to have somebody go independent,” while emphasizing that he wanted “China to cool down” and avoid conflict over the self-governing island.
The comments came after extensive discussions between Trump and Xi, during which Taiwan emerged as a central point of concern in the relationship between the world’s two largest economies.
Trump said he had made “no commitment either way” regarding whether the United States would defend Taiwan in the event of a military confrontation with China.
He questioned the prospect of US involvement in a distant conflict, saying, “We're supposed to travel 9,500 miles to fight a war. I'm not looking for that.”
Xi reportedly warned Trump that mishandling the Taiwan issue could push the two countries toward “conflict,” according to Chinese state media.
China considers Taiwan part of its territory and has not ruled out using force to bring the island under its control.
Taiwan, which governs itself democratically, maintains that its future should be decided by its own people.
Trump reiterated that the US position remained unchanged and stressed support for maintaining the current status quo across the Taiwan Strait.
The summit also focused on broader economic and geopolitical issues between Washington and Beijing.
Trump claimed the two sides had reached “fantastic” trade agreements, including Chinese purchases of Boeing aircraft, American oil, and soybeans, though no formal announcements were made.
He also invited Xi to Washington in September, signaling efforts to stabilize ties despite continuing disagreements on security issues.
Trump said Xi had assured him that China was not preparing military assistance for Iran amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East.
Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung said Taipei had maintained close communication with the United States and other partners during the summit to safeguard Taiwan’s interests and regional stability.