Taiwan releases statement in response to Trump comments

Taiwan responded to President Trump’s hesitation Friday to back a U.S. arms sale to the island following two days of meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping. 

The island’s foreign affairs ministry emphasized the U.S.’s “long-standing and consistent policy toward Taiwan” in a statement released Friday morning. 

“Regarding arms sales to Taiwan, this is not only a security commitment to Taiwan explicitly stated in the Taiwan Relations Act, but also a joint deterrent against regional threats,” the ministry said. 

“Taiwan appreciates President Trump’s continued support for cross-strait security since his first term, with the previous announced arms sales reaching a record high,” the statement continued. “Close cooperation between Taiwan and the US has always been the cornerstone of peace across the Taiwan Strait.”

The Trump administration has faced bipartisan pressure from Congress to follow through on a $14 billion arms deal to the island, a move opposed by the Chinese government. A group of eight Republican and Democratic senators urged Trump in a Monday letter to move forward with the sale. 

The president told reporters Friday that he and the Chinese leader “talked a lot about Taiwan.” Xi’s government refuses to recognize Taiwan’s independence, claiming it is part of China. 

“On Taiwan, he does not want to see a fight for independence because that would be a very strong confrontation, and I heard it out … I didn’t make a comment,” Trump said, adding that he has “a lot of respect” for Xi. 

Trump said he has yet to decide on the future of this arms deal and that he would “make a determination over the next early short period.” He noted that he needs to speak to the leader of Taiwan first. 

“I think the last thing we need is a war,” he said later. “It’s 9,500 miles away. I think that’s the last thing we need. We’re doing very well.”

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