Taiwan rejects independence warning after Trump comments and weapons review

Taiwan has reaffirmed that it is a sovereign, independent nation after US President Donald Trump warned it against formally declaring independence from China. The statement came as Trump said he would soon decide whether to approve an $11bn weapons package for the island. The comments followed a two-day summit in Beijing with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

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Trump said after the talks that he had made "no commitment either way" on Taiwan's status. He also said US policy on Taiwan had not changed, while stressing that he did not want conflict with Beijing. In remarks to reporters and in a later interview, he said he was "not looking to have somebody go independent" and wanted both sides to "cool down".

Taiwan's presidential spokesperson Karen Kuo said it was "self-evident" that Taiwan was "a sovereign, independent democratic country". She added that Taiwan remained committed to maintaining the status quo with China, meaning it would neither declare independence nor unite with the mainland. Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te has previously said Taiwan does not need to declare formal independence because it already sees itself as a sovereign nation.

The issue matters because Taiwan sits at the centre of one of the most sensitive security disputes between Washington and Beijing. China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has not ruled out using force to take control of the island. The United States is legally bound to provide Taiwan with a means of self-defence, but it also maintains a diplomatic relationship with China and has long tried to balance those two positions.

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The latest exchange also comes against a backdrop of long-running disagreement over Taiwan's political status. Many people in Taiwan see themselves as part of a separate nation, although most support keeping the current arrangement rather than making a formal declaration of independence. Washington's established position is that it does not support Taiwanese independence, and its ties with Beijing depend on Beijing accepting that there is only one Chinese government.

Beijing has repeatedly criticised Lai, describing him as a "troublemaker" and a "destroyer of cross-strait peace". Trump said Xi "feels very strongly" about the island and does not want to see a movement for independence. What remains unclear is whether the US will approve the proposed weapons sale, and how Beijing will respond to the latest comments.

The next key development will be the White House decision on the arms package and any further reaction from Taipei or Beijing.

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