Taiwan Thanks US Support as Trump-Xi Talks Continue Ahead

As Trump-Xi talks continued to draw global attention on Friday, Taiwan thanked the United States for its strong support and commitment to maintaining peace in the Taiwan Strait.

The issue of Taiwan once again emerged as a major focus in discussions between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, underlining the growing tensions between Washington and Beijing over regional security and sovereignty.

Taiwan Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung said Taipei appreciated the United States for consistently supporting stability in the region and standing by Taiwan during a period of rising China military pressure. His comments came after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that Taiwan had been discussed during recent meetings between Trump and Xi in Beijing.

• Trump-Xi talks keep Taiwan Strait tensions and Asia security in focus
• Taiwan thanks US support as China increases military pressure near island
• US-China tensions rise as Taiwan remains key issue in Beijing summit talks

The ongoing talks between the two leaders are covering several major global issues, including trade, technology, security in Asia, and geopolitical tensions. However, US-China relations and Taiwan remain among the most sensitive subjects in diplomatic discussions.

China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has repeatedly warned against any move toward formal independence. Beijing has also increased Chinese warships near Taiwan, military exercises, and fighter jet operations near Taiwanese airspace in recent years.

Taiwan, which governs itself democratically, rejects China’s sovereignty claims and maintains that only the people of Taiwan can decide their future. Taiwanese officials have accused Beijing of using military pressure to intimidate the island and destabilize the region.

According to Taiwan’s defense ministry, seven Chinese warships were detected operating near Taiwan over the past 24 hours. While no Chinese military aircraft were reported during that time, the naval presence highlighted the continuing pressure from Beijing.

The United States has repeatedly warned China against using force to alter the current situation in the Taiwan Strait. Rubio said any attempt to change the status quo through military action would be a “terrible mistake,” reaffirming Washington’s position on maintaining Taiwan Strait stability.

Taiwan National Security Council Secretary-General Joseph Wu also stressed the importance of keeping the Taiwan Strait peaceful, saying any conflict would affect not only Asia but also the global economy and international supply chains. Taiwan remains central to the global semiconductor supply chain, making regional security even more critical.

Reports from the Beijing summit said Xi warned Trump that mishandling the Taiwan issue could lead to “clashes and even conflicts” between the two countries. Despite the strong statements, Taiwanese officials said there had been no major surprises from the talks so far.

Although the United States does not officially recognize Taiwan diplomatically, it remains Taipei’s most important international supporter and biggest supplier of defensive weapons under the Taiwan Relations Act.

Also Read: Trump-Xi Beijing Summit Puts Trade Truce and Iran Crisis in Spotlight

With Trump and Xi expected to continue discussions in the coming days, Taiwan remains at the center of a growing US-China tensions and broader Asia-Pacific security concerns, keeping the region and the wider international community on alert.