By Gloria Ogbonna
During a Friday interview on Special Report with Bret Baier on the Fox News Channel, President Donald Trump addressed rising tensions between China and Taiwan, outlining his preference for maintaining the current status quo and cautioning against any push toward Taiwanese independence.
Speaking with host Bret Baier, Trump emphasized that he does not support a formal declaration of independence by Taiwan, warning that such a move could provoke a severe reaction from China.
“It’s not a takeover,” Trump said, referring to Beijing’s position. “They just don’t want to see this place — we’ll call it a place, because nobody knows how to define it — but they don’t want to see it go independent.” He suggested that if Taiwan were to declare independence, China would “probably do something pretty harsh,” and in turn, “they would be met harshly and bad things will happen.”
Trump made clear that he would prefer the current arrangement to continue rather than escalate into open conflict. “I’d like to see it stay the way it is,” he said, arguing that a shift toward independence would be “a very risky thing.” He went further, claiming that Taiwan’s current leadership appears to be “angling” for independence because “they want to get into a war” and believe they would have U.S. backing.
While reaffirming his support for peace and stability in the region, Trump said he wants both sides to de-escalate. “I want them to cool down. I want China to cool down,” he stated, framing his approach as one aimed at avoiding unnecessary confrontation.
The conversation then turned to U.S. military support for Taiwan, particularly a potential multibillion-dollar weapons package that has yet to receive final approval. When Baier asked whether the sale would move forward, Trump replied, “Well, I haven’t approved it yet. We’re going to see what happens.”
Pressed on what conditions might influence his decision, Trump declined to provide specifics. “Well, I’m not going to say that,” he responded when asked about his “hinge point.”
Later in the interview, Trump acknowledged that the pending arms sale is being used strategically. “I’m holding that in abeyance, and it depends on China. It depends,” he said. “It’s a very good negotiating chip for us, frankly.”
His remarks suggest that U.S. policy toward Taiwan under his leadership would be closely tied to broader negotiations with Beijing. By linking arms sales to China’s actions, Trump indicated he views military assistance not only as a security measure but also as leverage in diplomatic dealings.
The Taiwan issue remains one of the most sensitive flashpoints in U.S.-China relations. Beijing considers Taiwan part of its territory and has repeatedly vowed to prevent formal independence, while the United States has historically maintained a policy of strategic ambiguity — supporting Taiwan’s self-defense capabilities without formally recognizing it as an independent nation.
Trump’s comments underscore the delicate balance between deterrence and diplomacy, signaling that his administration’s approach would seek to preserve stability while keeping key decisions — including weapons transfers — as tools in broader negotiations with China.
Source Breitbart
Original article
Comments