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U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that Chinese President Xi Jinping assured him during his presidency that China would not invade Taiwan. This statement came during an interview with Fox News ahead of Trump’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska.
According to Trump, Xi told him, “I will never do it as long as you’re president.” However, Trump noted that Xi also said he is “very patient.”
The Chinese government has long viewed Taiwan, a democratic island with around 23 million inhabitants, as part of China. In June, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned that an invasion of Taiwan by China could be imminent.
A Chinese invasion of Taiwan would likely spark a military response from the United States, potentially leading to direct conflict between two nuclear-armed superpowers and having global consequences.
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Trump made his comments in an interview with Fox News on April 27. A source close to Trump stated that Xi made these assurances during their first confirmed telephone call in June.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry has not commented on the matter as of publication date.
In December, Chinese President Xi Jinping declared that no one could halt the “historic trend” of Taiwan’s reunification with China, referring to both entities as part of the same family. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned in June that any attempt by China to conquer Taiwan would have severe consequences for the Indo-Pacific and the world.
The outcome remains uncertain, with potential military actions from China or intervention from the United States should an invasion occur.
