Trump Warns Taiwan: 'Don't Declare Independence,' Signals Xi Jinping Opposes Military Conflict

U.S. President Donald Trump has cautioned Taiwan against formally declaring independence from China. "I'm not looking to have somebody go independent," Trump told Fox News on Friday at the conclusion of his two-day summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. Trump stated he made no promises regarding Taiwan and reiterated that U.S. policy on the matter remains unchanged. "You know, we'd have to travel 9,500 miles to wage war. I don't want that. I want them to cool it down. I want China to cool it down," he said. Trump confirmed that he and Xi discussed the island extensively but declined to confirm whether the U.S. would defend Taiwan. He emphasized that Xi has strong feelings about the island and does not want to see independence movements. According to Chinese state media reports, Xi warned during talks that the Taiwan issue is the most critical element in U.S.-China relations and that poor management could lead to conflict between the two nations. When asked whether the U.S. would face conflict with China over Taiwan, Trump said, "No, I don't think so. I think we won't have a problem. (Xi) doesn't want to see war." Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te has previously stated that Taiwan does not need to formally declare independence since it already considers itself a sovereign nation. The U.S. has long supported Taiwan, including a legal commitment to provide defensive weapons, while also seeking to maintain diplomatic relations with China. In late 2025, the Trump administration announced the sale of $11 billion in weapons to Taiwan, prompting Chinese government condemnation. Trump said he would decide soon whether to proceed with the sale and noted he discussed the matter extensively with Xi, adding that he needs to speak with Taiwan's current leadership.