Beijing, May 16 (V7N) — US President Donald Trump has warned Taiwan against formally declaring independence from China, saying Washington does not want a new regional war in Asia. He made the remarks in an interview with Fox News following a two-day summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Friday (May 15), according to BBC reports.
Trump said both the United States and China share a common interest in avoiding conflict over Taiwan. “I don’t want to see anyone become independent. Chinese President Xi Jinping doesn’t want to see any armed conflict in Taiwan. The United States doesn’t even want to see any new regional war,” he said.
He further added that the US does not want to be drawn into a distant military conflict. “We have to go to war 9,500 miles away. I don’t want that. I want them to be quiet. I want China to be quiet,” Trump stated.
During the interview, Trump confirmed that Taiwan was a key topic in his discussions with Xi Jinping but declined to clarify whether the US would intervene militarily in the event of a conflict. He previously said Washington had made no formal commitments to either side regarding the self-governing island.
China continues to claim Taiwan as part of its territory and has not ruled out the use of force if necessary. Chinese President Xi Jinping reportedly told the summit that the Taiwan issue is the most sensitive matter in US-China relations and could lead to conflict if mishandled.
Meanwhile, Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te reiterated that Taiwan already considers itself a sovereign state and does not require a formal declaration of independence.
The United States maintains its long-standing “one China” policy while simultaneously opposing any unilateral change to the status quo by force, keeping its position deliberately ambiguous on direct military intervention.
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