Trump says Xi told him China will not invade Taiwan while he is U.S. president
"I will tell you, you know, you have a very similar thing with President Xi of China and Taiwan, but I don't believe there's any way it's going to happen as long as I'm here. We'll see," Mr. Trump said during an interview on Fox News' "Special Report."
"He told me, 'I will never do it as long as you're president.' President Xi told me that, and I said, 'Well, I appreciate that,' but he also said, 'But I am very patient, and China is very patient.'," Mr. Trump said. Mr. Trump and Mr. Xi held their first confirmed call of Mr. Trump's second presidential term in June. Mr. Trump also said in April that Mr. Xi had called him but did not specify when that call took place. China views Taiwan as its own territory and has vowed to "reunify" with the democratic and separately governed island, by force if necessary. Taiwan strongly objects to China's sovereignty claims.
The Chinese Embassy in Washington on Friday described the topic of Taiwan as "the most important and sensitive issue" in China-U.S. relations.
"The U.S. government should adhere to the one-China principle and the three U.S.-China joint communiqués, handle Taiwan-related issues prudently, and earnestly safeguard China-U.S. relations and peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait," embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu said in a statement.
Although Washington is Taiwan's main arms supplier and international backer, the U.S. — like most countries — has no formal diplomatic ties with the island.
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