Trump Taiwan warning after his Xi summit signals fresh pressure on Taipei as US-China tensions rise over independence, defence and regional peace.
Trump Taiwan warning signals a tense new moment in US-China relations, after President Donald Trump cautioned Taipei against formally declaring independence from Beijing.
“I’m not looking to have somebody go independent,” the US president told Fox News on Friday, shortly after concluding his two-day summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing.
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te has previously said Taiwan does not need to issue a formal declaration of independence because it already considers itself a sovereign nation.
The United States has long supported Taiwan, including through a legal obligation to provide the island with the means to defend itself. But Washington has also had to balance that commitment with its diplomatic relationship with China.
Earlier, Trump said he had “made no commitment either way” regarding the self-governing island, which China claims as part of its territory and has not ruled out taking by force.
Washington’s long-standing position is that it does not support Taiwanese independence. Its continued ties with Beijing are built on accepting that there is only one Chinese government.
Beijing has repeatedly expressed strong opposition to Taiwan’s president, previously describing Lai as a “troublemaker” and a “destroyer of cross-strait peace”.
Many people in Taiwan see themselves as belonging to a separate nation. However, most favour maintaining the current status quo, where Taiwan neither formally declares independence from China nor unites with it.
In his Fox News interview, Trump repeated that US policy on the matter had not changed.
“You know, we’re supposed to travel 9,500 miles (15,289km) to fight a war. I’m not looking for that. I want them to cool down. I want China to cool down.”
On the flight back to Washington, Trump told reporters that he and Xi had spoken “a lot” about Taiwan. However, he said he refused to discuss whether the United States would defend the island.
Xi “feels very strongly” about Taiwan and “doesn’t want to see an independence movement,” Trump said.
“The Taiwan question is the most important issue in China-US relations,” Xi warned during the talks, according to Chinese state media. He added: “If mishandled, the two nations could collide or even come into conflict.”
Asked whether he expected a conflict with China over Taiwan, Trump replied: “No, I don’t think so. I think we’ll be fine. [Xi] doesn’t want to see a war.”
China has increased military drills around Taiwan in recent years, raising tensions across the region and testing the delicate balance Washington has tried to maintain.
Late last year, the Trump administration announced an $11bn ($8bn) weapons package for Taiwan, including advanced rocket launchers and a range of missiles. Beijing condemned the move.
Trump said he would soon decide whether that sale could proceed, adding that he and Xi had discussed the matter “in great detail”.
He added: “I’m going to say I have to speak to the person that right now is, you know, you know who he is, that’s running Taiwan.”
The United States does not maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, although it has substantial unofficial ties with the island.
US presidents do not traditionally speak directly with Taiwan’s leader. Such a move would likely trigger serious tensions with Beijing, which views President Lai Ching-te as a separatist.
Trump told Fox News: “We’re not looking to have wars, and if you kept it the way it is, I think China’s going to be OK with that. But we’re not looking to have somebody say, ‘Let’s go independent because the United States is backing us.’”
The United States has previously angered China by appearing to soften its language on Taiwanese independence.
In February 2025, the US State Department removed a statement from its website that had reiterated Washington’s opposition to Taiwanese independence. Beijing said the move “sends a wrong… signal to separatist forces”.
US officials in Taiwan said at the time: “We have long stated that we oppose any unilateral changes to the status quo from either side.”
Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung said his team had been closely monitoring the US-China summit and had maintained good communication with the United States and other countries.
He said the goal was “to ensure the stable deepening of Taiwan-US relations and safeguard Taiwan’s interests”.
Lin also said Taiwan had always acted as a “guardian of peace and stability” in the region.
He accused China of increasing risks through its “aggressive military actions and authoritarian oppression”.
