U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that Chinese President Xi Jinping personally assured him China would not attempt to invade Taiwan while Trump remains in office.
Speaking to Fox News ahead of his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, Trump said Xi made the commitment during a private conversation.
“He told me, ‘I will never do it as long as you’re president,’” Trump said. “I said, ‘Well, I appreciate that,’ and he also said, ‘But I am very patient, and China is very patient.”
Trump added that he does not believe Beijing will move against Taiwan “as long as I’m here.”
China Reaffirms Taiwan as Core Issue
The Chinese Embassy in Washington responded Friday, stressing that Taiwan remains “the most important and sensitive issue” in U.S.-China relations.
“The U.S. government should adhere to the one-China principle and the three U.S.-China joint communiqués, handle Taiwan-related issues prudently, and earnestly safeguard China-U.S. relations and peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait,” embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu said.
China claims Taiwan as its territory and has not ruled out using force to achieve what it calls “reunification.”
Taiwan Pushes Back
Taiwan’s government has not formally responded to Trump’s remarks. But Wang Ting-yu, a senior lawmaker from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), wrote on Facebook Saturday that Taiwan welcomed support from allies but could not rely on foreign assurances alone.
“Security cannot rely on the enemy’s promise, nor can it rely solely on the help from friends. Strengthening our own defence capability is fundamental,” Wang said.
Strategic Context
Trump and Xi held their first confirmed call of Trump’s second term in June 2025, following Trump’s re-election.
The U.S. remains Taiwan’s main arms supplier and international backer, though Washington does not maintain formal diplomatic ties with Taipei.
