President Trump said Chinese President Xi Jinping assured him the People’s Republic will not invade Taiwan while Trump is in office.
Trump make the remarks during an interview Friday with Fox News’ “Special Report,” ahead of his sit-down in Alaska with Russian President Vladimir Putin over Moscow’s war in Ukraine.
“I will tell you, you know, you have a very similar thing with President Xi of China and Taiwan, but I don’t believe there’s any way it’s going to happen as long as I’m here. We’ll see,” said Trump.
“He told me, ‘I will never do it as long as you’re president.’ President Xi told me that, and I said, ‘Well, I appreciate that,’ but he also said, ‘But I am very patient, and China is very patient.’”
Trump did not say when Xi made the comments, but both leaders in June had their first confirmed telephone call during Trump’s second term in the White House.
Trump in April also said he had received a call from Xi but did not say when.
China considers Taiwan its own territory and has vowed to “reunify,” by force if necessary, with the democratic and separately governed island.
Taiwan strongly opposes China’s claims of sovereignty.
The Chinese Embassy in Washington on Friday called Taiwan “the most important and sensitive issue” in China-U.S. relations.
“The U.S. government should adhere to the one-China principle and the three U.S.-China joint communiqués, handle Taiwan-related issues prudently, and earnestly safeguard China-U.S. relations and peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait,” embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu said.
Washington is Taiwan’s main arms supplier and international backer, but the U.S. — like most countries — has no formal diplomatic ties with the island.
With Post wires.
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