Taiwan Will Not Give Up Sovereignty After Trump-Xi Talks

Taiwan Will Not Give Up Sovereignty, President Lai Ching-te declared after a major summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, where tensions surrounding Taiwan were discussed in detail.Speaking publicly for the first time after the high-profile meeting in Beijing, Lai stressed that Taiwan would not provoke conflict with China but would also never surrender its sovereignty, democratic values, or freedom.The statement came after Chinese state media reported that President Xi warned Trump that Taiwan remained the “most important issue” in relations between China and the United States. Xi reportedly said mishandling the Taiwan issue could lead to serious conflict between the two global powers.

Donald Trump Reaffirms US Position on Taiwan

Following his visit to China, Donald Trump addressed the Taiwan issue during an interview with Fox News. Trump stated that the United States was not seeking Taiwanese independence and made it clear that he wanted to avoid conflict with Beijing.“I’m not looking to have somebody go independent,” Trump said during the interview, while also adding that official US policy regarding Taiwan had not changed.Trump later told reporters that Xi Jinping felt “very strongly” about Taiwan during their discussions. However, Trump emphasised that he had made “no commitment either way” during the summit.The United States remains Taiwan’s strongest international ally and continues to support the island through military cooperation and weapons sales under the Taiwan Relations Act.

President Lai Says Taiwan Is Already Independent

President Lai Ching-te repeated Taiwan’s long-standing position that there is no need for a formal declaration of independence because Taiwan already operates as a sovereign country.In a statement shared on Facebook, Lai said there was no such thing as a “Taiwan independence issue” because Taiwan, officially known as the Republic of China, already functions as an independent democratic nation.“Taiwan, the Republic of China, is a sovereign and independent democratic country,” Lai wrote.He added that the future of Taiwan should only be decided by the people of Taiwan and not through pressure or threats from outside governments.Most people living in Taiwan identify the island as a sovereign nation, although many also prefer maintaining the current status quo instead of officially declaring independence or seeking unification with China.

China Continues Pressure on Taiwan

China considers Taiwan part of its territory and has repeatedly stated that reunification remains a national priority. Beijing has also refused to rule out the use of military force to take control of the island if necessary.Chinese officials have frequently criticised President Lai, calling him a “troublemaker” and accusing him of damaging peace across the Taiwan Strait.In response, Lai said Taiwan would continue defending peace while protecting its national dignity and democratic system.“Taiwan will not provoke, will not escalate conflict, but will not under pressure give up national sovereignty and dignity,” he said.Lai also stated that Taiwan remained open to communication and dialogue with China, but only under conditions of equality and mutual respect.

US Arms Sales Continue To Support Taiwan

For decades, the United States has supplied defensive weapons to Taiwan under the Taiwan Relations Act. Washington sees Taiwan as an important partner in the Asia-Pacific region and continues to support the island’s security.In December, the Trump administration approved nearly $11 billion worth of arms sales to Taiwan, one of the largest military support packages ever provided to the island.The move angered Beijing, which has increased military pressure around Taiwan in recent years through large-scale military drills and simulated blockade exercises.During his return flight from Beijing, Trump also mentioned a possible future $14 billion arms sale to Taiwan. He confirmed that the issue had been discussed extensively during his talks with Xi Jinping.

Taiwan Thanks US For Continued Support

On Sunday, President Lai thanked Donald Trump for supporting peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. He also welcomed increased security cooperation and arms sales between the United States and Taiwan.Lai argued that China’s growing military activities around Taiwan made international support necessary to preserve regional stability.He said China has never ruled out using force against Taiwan and continues expanding its military power in an effort to change the balance of power in the region.Taiwanese officials insist that maintaining peace requires strong defence capabilities and close cooperation with democratic allies such as the United States.As tensions between Beijing and Taipei continue, the Taiwan issue remains one of the most sensitive and dangerous flashpoints in global politics.

Original Source:
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c7591gq10qko