As previously reported on AFN, Chinese President Xi Jinping warned Trump after a private meeting that the two countries could clash over Taiwan if the issue was not handled properly.
According to Associated Press, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Mao Ning, posted on X that Xi told Trump that “the Taiwan question is the most important issue in China-U.S. relations.”
During the flight home on Air Force One, Trump told reporters how he handled the delicate issue, reports Real Clear Politics.
Trump: "He feels very strongly. I made no commitment either way. We’ll see what happens."
Reporter: “What about the arms sales to Taiwan?
Trump: “I'll make a determination over the next fairly short period."
Reporter: “You're not necessarily going to go ahead. It was your proposal.”
Trump: “I'm going to make a determination. I have to speak to the person that right now, as you know who he is, that's running Taiwan."
The AP also wrote that Trump and Xi emphasized the importance of China-U.S. relations during their meeting. Trump appeared to be more optimistic, promising that “the relationship between China and the USA is going to be better than ever before.” Xi even admitted that “the two countries should be partners rather than rivals.”
Retired Navy Commander Kirk Lippold commanded the USS Cole when it was attacked by terrorists in 2000.
"I think the president handled it absolutely correctly. Part of what the United States has always done is maintain what's referred to as strategic ambiguity regarding Taiwan and what we would be willing to do,” says Lippold. “We clearly want to make China pause before they consider actually conducting any type of military action or potential invasion of Taiwan itself."
Lippold maintains that first and foremost, the defense of Taiwan is up to the Taiwanese people themselves.
