US President Donald Trump has warned Taiwan against making a formal declaration of independence from China, as tensions over the self-governing island remain a central issue in US-China relations.
“I’m not looking to have somebody go independent,” Trump told Fox News on Friday, following a two-day summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing.
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te has previously said Taiwan does not need to formally declare independence, arguing that it already considers itself a sovereign nation.
The United States has long supported Taiwan, including through a legal commitment to help provide the island with the means to defend itself. However, Washington has also had to balance that support with its diplomatic relationship with Beijing.
Trump earlier said he had “made no commitment either way” on Taiwan, which China claims as part of its territory and has not ruled out taking by force.
Washington’s long-standing position is that it does not support Taiwanese independence. Its diplomatic ties with Beijing are based on the acceptance that there is only one Chinese government.
Beijing has repeatedly criticised Lai, previously describing him as a “troublemaker” and a “destroyer of cross-strait peace”.
Many people in Taiwan see the island as a separate nation, although most support maintaining the current status quo, under which Taiwan neither declares independence from China nor unifies with it.
Speaking to Fox News, Trump reiterated that US policy on Taiwan had not changed.
“You know, we’re supposed to travel 9,500 miles (15,289km) to fight a war. I’m not looking for that. I want them to cool down. I want China to cool down.”
During his flight back to Washington, Trump told reporters that he and Xi had spoken “a lot” about Taiwan, but said he had declined to discuss whether the US would defend the island.
Trump said Xi “feels very strongly” about Taiwan and “doesn’t want to see a movement for independence”.
“The Taiwan question is the most important issue in China-US relations,” Xi warned during the talks, according to Chinese state media, adding: “If mishandled, the two nations could collide or even come into conflict.”
Asked whether he expected a conflict with China over Taiwan, Trump said: “No, I don’t think so. I think we’ll be fine. [Xi] doesn’t want to see a war.”
China has increased military drills around Taiwan in recent years, raising regional tensions and testing Washington’s careful diplomatic balance.
Late last year, the Trump administration announced an $11bn ($8bn) weapons package for Taiwan, including advanced rocket launchers and various missiles. Beijing strongly condemned the proposed sale.
Trump said he would soon decide whether the sale would proceed, adding that he and Xi had discussed the matter “in great detail”.
He added: “I’m going to say I have to speak to the person that right now is, you know, you know who he is, that’s running Taiwan.”
The US does not maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, although it has extensive unofficial ties with the island.
US presidents do not traditionally speak directly with Taiwan’s leader, and such contact would likely cause significant tension with Beijing, which views Lai as a separatist.
Taiwan Deputy Foreign Minister Chen Ming-chi said on Saturday that Taiwan would need to clarify the exact meaning of Trump’s remarks.
Chen also said US arms sales to Taiwan are guaranteed under US law.
“Taiwan-US arms sales have always been a cornerstone of regional peace and stability,” he added.
Trump also told Fox News: “We’re not looking to have wars, and if you kept it the way it is, I think China’s going to be OK with that. But we’re not looking to have somebody say, ‘Let’s go independent because the United States is backing us.'”
The US has previously drawn criticism from China for appearing to soften its stance on Taiwanese independence.
In February 2025, the US State Department removed wording from its website that reiterated Washington’s opposition to Taiwanese independence. Beijing said the move “sends a wrong… signal to separatist forces”.
US officials in Taiwan said at the time: “We have long stated that we oppose any unilateral changes to the status quo from either side.”
Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung said his team had been monitoring the US-China summit and had maintained strong communication with the US and other countries “to ensure the stable deepening of Taiwan-US relations and safeguard Taiwan’s interests”.
Lin said Taiwan had always been a “guardian of peace and stability” in the region, while accusing China of increasing risks through its “aggressive military actions and authoritarian oppression”.
