Donald Trump, the former U.S. President, has strongly implied that China’s leadership, particularly President Xi Jinping, is fully aware of the severe consequences should they attempt to invade Taiwan. In a recent interview, Trump asserted that China “knows the consequences” and that Xi “understands it very well.” He cryptically added, “You’ll find out if it happens, and he understands the answer to that.” Trump noted with surprise that the subject of Taiwan wasn’t raised by Xi during a recent encounter, suggesting this was due to Xi’s comprehensive understanding of the potential fallout. The former president deliberately kept his defense strategy close to his chest, explaining, “I can’t give away my secrets. I don’t want to be one of these guys that tells you exactly what’s going to happen.” He insisted that while he wouldn’t disclose details, Beijing was not in the dark about potential repercussions. Trump further contended that China’s previous restraint in acting against Taiwan during his tenure was a direct result of their knowledge of these consequences. He recalled statements from Chinese officials acknowledging they would not make a move while he was president because they understood the ramifications. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth voiced his own worries about China’s aggressive military activities in the Indo-Pacific region, specifically mentioning Taiwan and the South China Sea. His comments came during a meeting with his Chinese counterpart in Malaysia, occurring shortly after Trump’s interactions with Xi Jinping. Hegseth underscored the critical importance of preserving the balance of power and articulated U.S. concerns regarding Beijing’s expanding military footprint and its threats to regional allies.
