President Donald Trump signaled neutrality on Taiwan's security on Friday, warning Taipei not to expect unconditional U.S. military backing while urging restraint from both sides following his summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
In an interview with Fox News' Bret Baier, Trump said U.S. policy on Taiwan had not changed. "Nothing's changed. I will say this: I'm not looking to have somebody go independent. And, you know, we're supposed to travel 9,500 miles to fight a war. I'm not looking for that. I want them to cool down. I want China to cool down," he said.
When asked directly whether Taiwan should feel more or less secure, Trump replied, "Neutral."
During his interview, Trump offered no commitment on the long-delayed $14 billion U.S. arms package for Taiwan pre-approved by Congress but stalled at the White House. "I may do it. I may not do it," he said. China has repeatedly called Taiwan "the first red line that must not be crossed" in U.S.-China relations.
At the May 14 Beijing summit, Xi also warned that mishandling Taiwan could push U.S.-China ties into an "extremely dangerous" situation.
Trump suggested his presidency serves as a personal deterrent, saying he does not believe China would make a move on Taiwan while he remains in office, though he believes that could change after he leaves. "With me, I don't think they will do anything. When I'm not here, I think they might," he told Baier. He also urged Taiwan's chip industry to relocate to the U.S., saying he expects America to control 40-50% of global chip production by the end of his term, adding that bringing chipmakers onshore would "solve your problem."
The U.S. president also brought up imprisoned Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai during talks with Xi, saying he was not optimistic about Lai's release after Xi gave what Trump described as a "not positive" response.
