US President Donald Trump has warned Taiwan against declaring independence, hours after wrapping up a two-day summit with China's Xi Jinping in Beijing. Speaking to Fox News, Trump said, "I'm not looking to have somebody go independent," adding that he wants both sides to "cool down."
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te has previously argued that formal independence is unnecessary since Taiwan already considers itself a sovereign nation. This puts him at odds with Beijing, which views the self-governing island as a renegade province and has not ruled out taking it by force.
The US has long been Taiwan's unofficial sugar daddy, legally bound to provide it with self-defence capabilities, while also maintaining diplomatic ties with China. Washington's official position is that it does not support Taiwanese independence, a stance Trump reiterated. "We're not looking to have wars," he said, adding that if the status quo holds, "I think China's going to be OK with that."
Trump noted that he and Xi discussed Taiwan "a lot," but declined to say whether the US would defend the island. Xi, according to Chinese state media, warned that the Taiwan question is "the most important issue in China-US relations" and that mishandling it could cause the two nations to "collide or even come into conflict." Trump, ever the optimist, said: "No, I don't think so. I think we'll be fine."
China has ramped up military drills around Taiwan, raising regional tensions. Late last year, the Trump administration announced an $11 billion weapons sale to Taiwan - including advanced rocket launchers and missiles - which Beijing condemned. Trump said he would soon decide whether that sale goes ahead, after discussing it with Xi "in great detail." He added, cryptically: "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."
Taiwan's Deputy Foreign Minister Chen Ming-chi said the island needs to clarify the exact meaning of Trump's remarks, while insisting that US arms sales are a "cornerstone of regional peace and stability." A spokesperson for President Lai quoted by Reuters said the sales represent a "US security commitment" and a "shared deterrent."
The US has previously angered China by appearing to soften its stance on Taiwanese independence. In February 2025, its State Department dropped a statement reiterating opposition to independence, which Beijing said "sends a wrong signal." US officials in Taiwan quickly clarified they oppose "any unilateral changes to the status quo from either side."
Taiwan's Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung said his team monitored the summit closely, maintaining "good communication" with the US to safeguard Taiwan's interests. He accused China of escalating risk with "aggressive military actions and authoritarian oppression," while positioning Taiwan as a "guardian of peace and stability." Because nothing says peace like a $11 billion arsenal.