Taiwan insists it is independent after Trump warning

Fresh from his summit in Beijing, the US president warned against a formal declaration of independence by the island. Taiwan reaffirms independence despite Trump warning Watch: What did we learn from Trump's visit to China? Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. President Lai says Taiwan does not need to declare formal independence Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te stands to the right of the picture waving and smiling at his party HQ in Taipei. Behind him is a green backdrop with Chinese lettering. Taiwan insists it is independent after Trump warning Taiwan has insisted it is a sovereign, independent nation, after US President Donald Trump cautioned it against formally declaring independence from China. Trump's remarks came after a two-day summit in Beijing, after which he said he had "made no commitment either way" about the self-governing island - which China claims as part of its territory and has not ruled out taking by force. After talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Trump also said he would soon decide whether to approve an $11bn ($8bn) package of weapons to be sold to Taiwan. After talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Trump also said he would soon decide whether to approve an $11bn ($8bn) package of weapons to be sold to Taiwan. The US administration is bound by law to provide Taiwan with a means of self-defence, but has frequently had to square this alliance with maintaining a diplomatic relationship with China. Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te has previously stated that Taiwan does not need to declare formal independence because it already sees itself as a sovereign nation. On Saturday, presidential spokesperson Karen Kuo said it was "self-evident" that Taiwan was "a sovereign, independent democratic country". She added, however, that Taiwan was committed to maintaining the status quo with China - in which Taiwan neither declares independence from China nor unites with it. Many Taiwanese consider themselves to be part of a separate nation, though most are in favour of maintaining their current status. Washington's established position is that it does not support Taiwanese independence, with continued ties with Beijing being contingent on its acceptance that there is only one Chinese government. Xi (L) told Trump he did not want to see a movement for independence in Taiwan Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) smiles facing the camera while US President Donald Trump (R), facing towards him, also smiles, after the two leaders visited the Zhongnanhai Garden in Beijing. In an interview with Fox News after meetings with President Xi, Trump reiterated that US policy on Taiwan had not changed, while making it clear he did not seek conflict with Beijing. "I'm not looking to have somebody go independent," he said. "You know, we're supposed to travel 9,500 miles (15,289km) to fight a war. I'm not looking for that. I want them to cool down. I want China to cool down." On the flight back to Washington, the US president had told reporters that he and Xi had spoken "a lot" about the island, but said he had declined to discuss whether the US would defend it. Xi "feels very strongly" about the island and "doesn't want to see a movement for independence", Trump said. Beijing has been vocal in its dislike of Taiwan's president, who it has previously described as a "troublemaker" and a "destroyer of cross-strait peace". Split screen image - Laura Bicker (l) and Presidents Xi and Trump (r) China has ramped up military drills around the island in recent years, raising tensions in the region and testing the balance that Washington has struck. Trump said the impending arms package would be discussed with Taiwan's leadership. He added: "I'm going to say I have to speak to the person that right now is, you know, you know who he is, that's running Taiwan." The US does not have formal relations with Taiwan, though it maintains substantial unofficial relations. US presidents do not traditionally speak directly to Taiwan's leader, and to do so would be likely to cause significant tensions with Beijing. "Our nation is grateful to President Trump for his continued support for security in the Taiwan Strait since his first term in office," Taiwan's presidential spokesman said. "Taiwan will continue to deepen co-operation with the US to achieve peace through strength, ensuring that peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait are not threatened or undermined, which serves the common interests of Taiwan, the US, and the global democratic community." US President Donald Trump (L) and China's President Xi Jinping (R) shaking hands in front of US and Chinese flags Trump and Xi conclude 'very successful' talks but no deals confirmed Children wave flags and flowers and lift their arms in the air in front of Xi and Trump, who are standing on a red carpet with Trump gesticulating towards the children Flattery and fanfare as Trump welcomed to China - but thorny issues remain US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping tour Zhongnanhai Garden on May 15, 2026 in Beijing, China. Xi takes Trump on tour of Communist Party's seat of power in Beijing Tina Peters, a Republican former county clerk, is serving a nine-year sentence for tampering with election equipment. President Donald Trump said the operation eliminated "the most active terrorist in the world", Abu-Bilal al-Minuki. The US president says he wants Beijing and Taipei to "cool down" tensions over the self-governing island. Charges could come as soon as next week in a case reportedly focused on Cuba's downing of two planes in 1996. There were plenty of choreographed ceremonies but no trade breakthroughs after the two-day visit. The US president says Tehran has to show "real" commitment to removing nuclear fuel and stopping uranium enrichment. Trump’s softer approach towards China is one that experts say will likely trickle down to the wider MAGA base. The BBC's Tom Bateman asked President Trump about China's willingness to pressure Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz.