US President Donald Trump said that Chinese President Xi Jinping is fully aware of the consequences China would face if it decides to take military action against Taiwan. The White House chief participated in an interview on CBS, to be broadcast this Sunday, in which he insisted that the issue of the island's autonomy, considered by Beijing to be a renegade territory, was never on the agenda during the summit between the two leaders last week.
During the interview, the CBS journalist directly asked Trump if he would order US forces to intervene in defense of Taiwan in the event of an attack by China. Trump avoided giving a clear answer, arguing that"they'll know if it happens, and he understands the answer to that," referring to Xi Jinping. The US president added that during his administration, the Chinese leader never suggested a military scenario regarding the island:"He never mentioned it because he understands, and he understands very well."
When pressed on why he wouldn't publicly state a more precise position on a potential conflict in Taiwan, Trump emphasized: “I don't want to reveal, I can't reveal my secrets. I don't want to be one of those guys who tells you exactly what's going to happen if something happens.” He added that “the other side knows” and stressed that Xi Jinping is aware of the repercussions. The president also mentioned that Chinese officials had stated in previous meetings that “we would never do anything while President Trump is president,” indicating that Beijing is aware of the risks of a confrontation.
These statements come after the recent bilateral meeting between Trump and Xi Jinping in South Korea, where the two leaders celebrated a trade agreement considered key to easing tensions between the United States and China after Trump's return to the White House in January. The agreement included commitments regarding cooperation on Ukraine, although Trump specified that trade in Russian oil was not discussed in depth.
Taiwan was not discussed in detail during the meeting, and both leaders chose to avoid questions from the press regarding the island. This omission has increased concerns in Taipei about the possibility of US concessions to China in the pursuit of geopolitical stability.
During the meeting on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju, Trump and Xi also agreed to advance the fight against fentanyl. In exchange for China's commitment to strengthen controls on the trafficking of this synthetic opioid, the United States pledged to reduce tariffs from 20% to 10%. The event was attended by key members of the US cabinet and senior Chinese officials, reflecting both governments' intention to overcome differences through negotiation.
Xi used the metaphor of a “high-seas vessel” to describe the bilateral relationship and stressed the need for both nations to assume their global responsibilities. The leaders appeared open to a truce on key issues, including US tariffs and Chinese restrictions on strategic minerals. The atmosphere of the meeting contrasted sharply with weeks of escalating tensions, during which Trump threatened 100% tariffs and new technology restrictions in response to Chinese attempts to limit rare earth exports.
China's threats to reclaim Taiwan, even"by force," have heightened tensions between Washington and Beijing, reigniting one of the main points of contention in their bilateral relationship. The United States opposes Taipei, which China considers an infringement on its sovereignty.
