Taiwan will not provoke any conflict but will also not give up its sovereignty, declared President Lai Ching-te following a high-profile summit between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, where the issue of Taiwan's independence was discussed. In comments reflecting Taiwan's precarious position in US-China relations, Lai emphasized the island’s intention to maintain its independence continually.
Chinese state media reported that Xi described Taiwan as the most important issue in bilateral relations and warned that mismanagement could lead to conflict. In a subsequent interview, Trump echoed sentiments of caution concerning Taiwanese independence, stating he did not wish for Taiwan to proceed toward independence.
The US has been a long-standing ally of Taiwan and is legally obligated to provide the island with defensive means against potential aggression. Amidst these tensions, Lai reiterated Taiwan's position that there is no need for a formal declaration of independence, as it already considers itself a sovereign nation.
Lai expressed this perspective on social media, stating, There is no 'Taiwan independence' issue, and asserting that, Taiwan, the Republic of China, is a sovereign and independent democratic country. He further mentioned that the decision regarding Taiwan's future must reflect the will of its people.
Despite the significant support for maintaining the status quo, with many Taiwanese preferring neither unification with China nor formal independence, Lai warned against Beijing's pressures and described efforts at forced unification as unacceptable. He stressed Taiwan's willingness to engage in respectful dialogue with China, conditioned on terms of equality and dignity.
Historically, the US has sold arms to Taiwan under the Taiwan Relations Act to ensure its ability to defend itself. Recent arms agreements reached under the Trump administration have drawn strong disapproval from Beijing, which sees such moves as provocative. As Trump returned from a meeting in China, he alluded to the possibility of further arms sales to Taiwan, exacerbating tensions further.
In conclusion, Lai has reaffirmed Taiwan's commitment to defending its sovereignty while calling for peaceful and dignified relations with China, amidst increasing pressures from Beijing and the backdrop of US support for Taiwan’s self-defense capabilities.
