Taiwanese leader Lai Ching-te declared today that cross-strait security cannot be bartered, following suggestions from U.S. President Donald Trump that American weapon sales to the island could be utilized as leverage in wider trade and diplomatic negotiations with China. “Taiwan stands at the center of global interests, and peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait will never be sacrificed or negotiated,” Lai stated in a message published on social media.
The president of the Republic of China emphasized that continuous arms sales from the United States, along with robust bilateral security cooperation, remain essential elements for maintaining regional deterrence.
The statement follows a formal declaration from Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs asserting that the island is an independent nation, directly responding to remarks made by Trump indicating he was not encouraging Taipei to declare formal independence.
Taiwanese diplomacy reiterated that Taiwan is a sovereign, democratic country that is not subordinate to the People’s Republic of China.
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The political friction mounted after Trump expressed in a Fox News interview his desire to avoid a military conflict with Beijing over the island, questioning the logistics of entering a war located thousands of miles away.
Trump, who concluded an official state visit to Beijing last week, revealed he discussed the Taiwan issue extensively with Chinese President Xi Jinping, specifically addressing the sensitive topic of American defense sales to Taipei.
According to Chinese state media, Xi warned the American president that any mismanagement of the geopolitical issue could inadvertently push China and the United States into a direct military confrontation. Trump noted he has not yet made a final determination regarding pending arms packages for Taiwan but promised a decision would be announced in the near future.
The U.S. President simultaneously refused to clarify whether the United States military would actively defend Taiwan in the event of an invasion by mainland forces, stating that only he knows the answer to that scenario.
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In response, Taiwan’s diplomatic corps reminded Washington that arms agreements are legally bound under the Taiwan Relations Act, serving as a joint deterrent against regional threats rather than a flexible negotiating chip.
Beijing continues to view Taiwan as a breakaway province and an inalienable part of its territory, refusing to rule out the use of force to achieve unification.
