Taiwan Affirms Strong Alliance with Washington Following Trump-Xi Call
In a clear political message following a sensitive call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te stated that relations between Taiwan and the United States remain "as solid as a rock," emphasizing that all joint cooperation programs will continue unchanged.
Lai's comments came on Thursday after Trump and Xi discussed Taiwan during a phone call, where Xi cautioned Washington about the need to handle arms sales to the island with "care," as Beijing considers Taiwan part of its territory.
Speaking to reporters in Taiwan, President Lai clarified that the country maintains strong and ongoing communication channels with the United States, asserting that U.S. commitments to Taiwan will remain consistent, without any retreat or modification.
He added that the current political reality, which asserts that Taiwan is not part of the People's Republic of China, will remain unchanged, directly addressing repeated Chinese pressures.
Although the United States, like most countries, does not have official diplomatic relations with Taiwan, it is viewed as the island's primary international supporter and is legally obligated to provide it with the means for self-defense.
In this context, the Trump administration announced a historic $11.1 billion arms sale to Taiwan last December, marking the largest military deal between the two parties, which provoked Beijing's anger and heightened regional tensions.
These developments come amid ongoing tensions in U.S.-China relations, as Taipei seeks to reaffirm the strength of its alliance with Washington despite repeated Chinese warnings and pressures.
