Trump tells Taiwan not to count on unconditional US protection
Kyiv • UNN
Trump stated there is no unconditional support for Taiwan and did not confirm the provision of weapons. The US President seeks to avoid direct conflict with China.
U.S. President Donald Trump, following negotiations with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, stated that Taiwan should not count on unconditional military support from Washington in the event of an escalation of the conflict with the PRC. He said this in an interview with Fox News, UNN reports.
Details
During a conversation with host Bret Baier, Trump emphasized that he does not support the idea of Taiwan's independence and wants to avoid a major war between the U.S. and China.
"I'm not looking for anyone to become independent. We have to go 9,500 miles to fight. I'm not looking for that. I want them to cool off. I want China to cool off,"
Trump did not confirm weapons supplies to Taiwan
The U.S. President also did not give a clear answer regarding the possible approval of a $14 billion military aid package for Taiwan, which had previously been supported by American lawmakers.
"Maybe I will. Maybe I won't. We're not looking for wars,"
At the same time, Beijing also issued tough statements regarding Taiwan following the summit. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning warned of the risk of "clashes and even conflict" between the U.S. and the PRC due to the situation surrounding the island.
China considers Taiwan its territory and opposes American military support for Taipei. The U.S. does not officially recognize the island's independence but continues to provide it with defensive assistance.