In a pointed message to Beijing, U.S. President Donald Trump has communicated to Chinese leader Xi Jinping that any move against Taiwan will face severe consequences. The President, however, stopped short of detailing whether the United States would commit military forces to defend the island.
Speaking in an excerpt from a broadcast interview, Trump mentioned that the sensitive issue of Taiwan was not discussed during his recent summit with Xi in South Korea. When pressed on the possibility of authorizing military action should China attempt to take Taiwan by force, Trump responded with an enigmatic declaration: “You’ll find out if it happens, and he understands the answer to that.” He further implied that his strategic plans remain confidential, stating, “I can’t give away my secrets. The other side knows.”
President Trump also asserted that Chinese leadership has openly conveyed their intention to avoid any aggressive actions against Taiwan while he remains in office, explicitly citing their understanding of the potential fallout. Taiwan operates as a self-ruled democracy, while the People’s Republic of China considers it an inseparable part of its territory. The U.S. maintains a ‘One China’ policy, recognizing Beijing’s sovereignty claim but consistently supplying Taiwan with arms for its self-defense.
The Taiwan issue is a persistent source of friction between the U.S. and China. Reports indicate that the recent high-level meeting primarily focused on resolving trade disagreements, bypassing discussions on contentious territorial matters.