US President Donald Trump has cautioned Taiwan against formally declaring independence from China.
I'm not looking to have somebody go independent, the US president told Fox News on Friday, at the end of his two-day summit with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Beijing.
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te has previously stated that Taiwan does not need to declare formal independence because it already sees itself as a sovereign nation.
The US has long supported Taiwan, including being bound by law to provide it with a means of self-defense, but frequently has to square this alliance with maintaining a diplomatic relationship with China.
Trump earlier mentioned he made no commitment either way about the self-governing island, which China claims as part of its territory and has not ruled out taking by force.
Washington's established position is that it does not support Taiwanese independence, with continued ties with Beijing being contingent on its acceptance that there is only one Chinese government.
Beijing has been vocal against Taiwan's president, whom it has described as a troublemaker and a destroyer of cross-strait peace.
Many Taiwanese see themselves as part of a separate nation, though most prefer to maintain the current status quo where Taiwan neither declares independence nor unites with China.
In his interview with Fox News, Trump reiterated that US policy on the matter 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, he said.
On the flight back to Washington, the US president told reporters that he and Xi had spoken a lot about the island but said he had declined to discuss whether the US would defend it.
Xi feels very strongly about the island and doesn't want to see a movement for independence, Trump noted.
According to Chinese state media, Xi warned that the Taiwan question is the most critical issue in China-US relations, stating: If mishandled, the two nations could collide or even come into conflict.
When asked if he foresaw a conflict with China over Taiwan, Trump replied: No, I don't think so. I think we'll be fine. [Xi] doesn't want to see a war.
China has ramped up military drills around the island in recent years, raising tensions in the region and testing the balance that Washington has struck.
Late last year, the Trump administration announced an $11 billion package of weapons to be sold to Taiwan, including advanced rocket launchers and a variety of missiles, which Beijing condemned.
Trump said he would soon decide whether that sale could proceed, adding he and Xi had discussed it in detail.
The US does not maintain formal relations with Taiwan, yet substantial unofficial relations persist. US presidents traditionally avoid directly speaking to Taiwan's leader to prevent increased tensions with Beijing, which views Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te as a separatist.
Taiwan's Deputy Foreign Minister indicated that clarity on Trump's remarks would be necessary, while reaffirming that US arms sales are confirmed under US law.
Trump summarized the US stance: 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.'
In February 2025, the US State Department had sparked anger from China by seemingly softening its independence stance, raising questions about the balance in its China-Taiwan relations.
US officials reiterated their position, opposing unilateral changes in the status quo from either side.
Taiwan's Foreign Minister emphasized that Taiwan had consistently monitored the US-China summit and maintained solid communication with the US and other countries to safeguard Taiwan's interests.
He accused China of escalating risks with aggressive military actions and authoritarian repression, asserting Taiwan's role as a guardian of peace and stability in the region.
