Trump: China’s Xi Vowed No Taiwan Action While I’m President/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Donald Trump claims Chinese President Xi Jinping assured him that China would not act against Taiwan during Trump’s presidency. The statement comes amid renewed focus on U.S.-China relations. China reaffirmed Taiwan is its internal matter and issued a stern warning against interference.
China-Taiwan Assurances from Xi – Quick Looks
- Trump says Xi Jinping assured no Taiwan action during his term
- The Taiwan issue wasn’t discussed directly in their recent talks
- Trump cites Xi’s understanding of “consequences” of any aggression
- U.S. policy remains one of “strategic ambiguity” on Taiwan defense
- China’s embassy reiterated Taiwan as an internal Chinese matter
- The “60 Minutes” interview was recorded at Mar-a-Lago
- Chinese officials haven’t confirmed Xi gave Trump such assurances
- CBS interview marked Trump’s return after settling a previous lawsuit
Deep Look
Trump: Xi Promised No Action on Taiwan While I’m in Office
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — President Donald Trump asserted that Chinese President Xi Jinping assured him that China would refrain from taking military or political action toward Taiwan for the duration of his presidency. The statement, made during an interview for CBS’ “60 Minutes,” aligns with Trump’s ongoing narrative of maintaining strong personal diplomacy with world leaders.
Although Trump and Xi met recently in South Korea for discussions primarily centered on trade relations, Trump stated the topic of Taiwan was not explicitly discussed. However, Trump expressed certainty that China would avoid any aggressive move toward the self-governed island while he holds office.
“He has openly said, and his people have openly said at meetings, ‘We would never do anything while President Trump is president,’ because they know the consequences,” Trump told CBS.
Taiwan, a democratic island that China considers a breakaway province, has long been a flashpoint in U.S.-China relations. While Beijing has not ruled out the use of force to assert its claims over Taiwan, the United States has walked a diplomatic tightrope, adhering to the “One China” policy while maintaining informal ties with Taipei and supplying it with defensive weapons.
The U.S. has followed the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979, which commits Washington to ensuring Taiwan has adequate defense capabilities. However, the act stops short of guaranteeing U.S. military intervention in the event of a Chinese attack. Instead, the U.S. employs a strategy known as “strategic ambiguity,” leaving the question of military response deliberately vague.
Asked whether he would commit American forces to defend Taiwan if China invaded, Trump avoided a direct answer.
“You’ll find out if it happens,” he said, implying that Xi knows the stakes involved.
The Chinese government offered a carefully worded response. Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington, did not confirm Trump’s claim. Instead, Liu emphasized Beijing’s long-held stance on Taiwan, describing it as China’s internal matter and “the core of China’s core interests.”
“China will never allow any person or force to separate Taiwan from China in any way,” Liu said. He added that the resolution of the Taiwan issue is solely the prerogative of the Chinese people.
The White House has not commented on when or how Chinese officials may have given such reassurances to Trump. No transcripts or official records of conversations between Trump and Xi have been released to corroborate the former president’s claims.
The “60 Minutes” interview, taped at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, marks his first appearance on the show since settling a legal dispute with CBS News. That lawsuit stemmed from an earlier interview conducted with Vice President Kamala Harris.
Trump’s latest statements come at a time when U.S.-China relations remain strained on several fronts, including trade, military posturing in the South China Sea, and growing tensions around Taiwan. The ambiguity of the U.S. position, while meant to deter both Chinese aggression and Taiwanese moves toward independence, has led to increasing pressure on policymakers in Washington to clarify the country’s stance.
As Trump positions himself for another run at the White House, his claims of preventing Chinese action on Taiwan may serve both as a testament to his foreign policy approach and a critique of the current administration’s handling of international relations.
China, meanwhile, continues to frame any U.S. engagement with Taiwan — whether diplomatic visits or arms sales — as a violation of its sovereignty. With cross-strait tensions simmering and no formal resolution in sight, Taiwan remains a critical test for future U.S. leadership and Chinese foreign policy ambitions.
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