WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Sunday, August 17, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump revealed that Chinese President Xi Jinping personally assured him that China would not invade Taiwan during Trump’s presidency. The claim, made during a Friday interview with Fox News’ Bret Baier aboard Air Force One en route to a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, underscores a rare moment of diplomacy amid heightened U.S.-China tensions over Taiwan, according to Reuters. Trump recounted Xi’s words: “He told me, ‘I will never do it as long as you’re president.’ I said, ‘Well, I appreciate that,’ but he also said, ‘I am very patient, and China is very patient.’”
The statement follows Trump and Xi’s first confirmed call of Trump’s second term in June, though Trump mentioned an earlier April call without specifying details. China views Taiwan, a self-governing democracy of 23 million, as a breakaway province, with Xi repeatedly vowing “reunification,” by force if necessary. In June, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned of an “imminent” threat of Chinese invasion by 2027, raising fears of a potential U.S.-China conflict. Trump’s remarks, reported by Newsweek, suggest a temporary de-escalation, though Xi’s caveat about patience signals long-term ambitions.
Taiwan’s government has not officially responded, but Wang Ting-yu, a senior lawmaker from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, emphasized self-reliance on Facebook: “Security cannot rely on the enemy’s promise, nor solely on the help from friends. Strengthening our own defence capability is fundamental!” The Chinese Embassy in Washington called Taiwan “the most important and sensitive issue” in U.S.-China relations, urging adherence to the one-China principle, per Reuters.
While the U.S. remains Taiwan’s primary arms supplier, it lacks formal diplomatic ties. Trump’s claim, echoed across posts on X, has sparked debate, with critics like Richard Angwin calling it “delusional” and others seeing it as a strategic move to bolster Trump’s peacemaker image. As U.S.-China relations remain fraught, the assurance offers a momentary reprieve, but Taiwan continues bolstering defenses amid ongoing Chinese military maneuvers.
Source: Reuters
