U.S. President Donald Trump signaled he does not support Taiwan declaring independence after talks with Xi Jinping in China, while emphasizing he does not want war in Asia.
On 16 May 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump spoke to Fox News after completing an official visit to China. He warned Taiwan against declaring independence and questioned why the U.S. must travel nearly 9,500 miles to enter a war. He stated he wants both Taiwan and China to reduce tensions, and if all parties maintain the status quo, China should be willing to accept it.
Taiwan was a key topic during the summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Trump in Beijing. Trump's latest stance reflects increased caution in expressing his position on Taiwan, even though the U.S. remains legally obligated to provide arms to help Taiwan defend itself. However, the U.S. has never clearly confirmed whether it would deploy forces to defend Taiwan if China attacks.
Earlier, Xi Jinping warned at the start of the summit that mishandling the Taiwan issue could lead to conflict between China and the U.S. China considers Taiwan part of its territory, while Taiwan's leaders view Taiwan as already independent and see no need for a formal declaration of independence.
Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded to the U.S. stance by stating that the U.S. continues to prioritize peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.
Source: AFP