Post by : Meena Ariff

U.S. President Donald Trump has said that the future of Taiwan ultimately depends on the decision of Chinese President Xi Jinping, but he strongly warned against any move that could change the current situation in the region.

Speaking in an interview, Trump stated that Xi views Taiwan as part of China and believes the decision on what China does next rests with him. However, Trump made it clear that he would be “very unhappy” if China attempted to alter the status quo surrounding Taiwan.

Trump said he has directly communicated his concerns to Xi and expressed confidence that China will not take military action against Taiwan during his presidency, which continues until 2029. He added that while such a move could happen under a future U.S. president, he does not expect it while he remains in office.

The remarks came during a broader discussion about global conflicts, including recent U.S. military actions elsewhere. Trump said the Taiwan situation is not comparable to other international conflicts, emphasizing that Taiwan does not pose a direct threat to China.

China maintains that Taiwan is its territory and considers the issue an internal matter. Beijing has never ruled out the use of force to bring the island under its control. Taiwan, however, rejects China’s claims and continues to operate as a self-governed democracy.

The United States does not officially recognize Taiwan diplomatically, but it remains the island’s strongest international supporter. U.S. law requires Washington to help Taiwan defend itself, making the issue a long-standing source of tension between the U.S. and China.

Despite rising concerns in the region, Trump has avoided clearly stating how the U.S. would respond if tensions escalate. Instead, he has continued to stress dialogue, deterrence, and his belief that no major action will occur under his leadership.