Taiwan remains committed to status quo after Trump's China trip
Taiwan has reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining the status quo in the Taiwan Strait following US President Donald Trump's visit to China, emphasizing its identity as a sovereign democratic nation. President Trump called for both China and Taiwan to 'cool down' and expressed reluctance about supporting independence, while a $14 billion US arms package for Taiwan remains pending White House approval. Cross-strait relations remain tense, with Chinese President Xi Jinping warning that mishandling the Taiwan issue could lead to conflict between the US and China.
- ▪Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the Republic of China is a sovereign democratic country and that Beijing has no jurisdiction over it.
- ▪US President Donald Trump said he was not seeking independence for Taiwan and urged both sides to de-escalate tensions.
- ▪A $14 billion US arms package for Taiwan is awaiting White House approval, but President Trump has not committed to finalizing it.
- ▪Chinese President Xi Jinping warned that improper handling of the Taiwan issue could push US-China relations into a dangerous situation.
- ▪Public opinion in Taiwan shows a majority favor maintaining the status quo, with only a small percentage supporting immediate reunification or independence.
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Taiwan asserts its independence following Donald Trump's visit to BeijingBy Fergus GreggTopic:Foreign AffairsSun 17 May 2026 at 7:30amSun 17 May 2026 at 7:30amSun 17 May 2026 at 7:30amDonald Trump says he wants both China and Taiwan to "cool down". (Reuters: Evan Vucci)In short: Taiwan responds to the Trump-Xi talks in Beijing, reasserting its position of maintaining the status quo in the region and its rights as a "sovereign democratic country". US President Donald Trump said he wanted both China and Taiwan to "cool off" and he wasn't "looking to have somebody go independent". What's next? A $US14 billion arms package to Taiwan from the US is awaiting White House approval, but Mr Trump has said he "may do it, I may not do it".
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at ABC News (Australia).