Taipei, Taiwan — Taiwan reaffirmed its sovereignty and independence on Saturday, saying the self-governing island will maintain the “cross-strait status quo” while deepening ties with the United States following remarks by former President Donald Trump. The statement came after Trump, during an interview with Fox News, said he did not support Taiwanese independence during his meetings with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing.

Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on Saturday clarifying that the island is “sovereign and independent,” addressing concerns raised by Trump’s comments. The government emphasized it will not officially declare independence from China, adhering to a long-standing policy that avoids provoking Beijing while asserting its autonomy. The announcement followed Trump’s remarks in an interview aired Saturday, where he stated, “I’m not looking to have somebody go independent,” referring to Taiwan.

Trump’s stance on Taiwan draws sharp response

Trump’s comments have reignited tensions over Taiwan’s political status, a decades-old dispute rooted in the Chinese civil war that ended in 1949. While the U.S. does not formally recognize Taiwan as an independent nation, Washington has maintained a policy of strategic ambiguity, supplying arms and signaling potential military support in the event of a Chinese attack. Successive U.S. administrations have upheld this approach, balancing relations with both Taipei and Beijing.

Taiwan’s government stressed it will continue to strengthen its relationship with the U.S. amid the uncertainty sparked by Trump’s remarks. The island has increasingly sought diplomatic and military support from Washington to counterbalance China’s growing pressure, including military drills and diplomatic isolation campaigns. Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen Tsai Ing-wen has repeatedly vowed to defend the island’s democracy and sovereignty, despite Beijing’s insistence that Taiwan is part of its territory.

China reacts to U.S. and Taiwan statements

China, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory, has not yet responded publicly to Taiwan’s declaration or Trump’s comments. Beijing has long opposed any moves that suggest Taiwanese independence, including U.S. arms sales to Taipei. The Chinese government has warned that it reserves the right to use force to reunify Taiwan with the mainland if necessary.

Trump’s visit to China, his first since leaving office, included meetings with Xi Jinping Xi Jinping focused on trade and global security. While Trump’s comments on Taiwan were brief, they have drawn attention from policymakers in Taipei and Washington, raising questions about the future of U.S.-Taiwan relations. The U.S. State Department has not issued an immediate response to Trump’s remarks, maintaining its long-standing policy of supporting Taiwan without recognizing its independence.

Analysts suggest Taiwan’s statement is a calculated move to assert its autonomy while avoiding direct confrontation with Beijing. The island’s leadership faces pressure from both domestic voters and international allies to stand firm against China’s claims. Meanwhile, Trump’s comments could signal a shift in U.S. policy toward Taiwan, though his exact intentions remain unclear.

The coming months may bring further diplomatic maneuvers as Taiwan prepares for its next presidential election in 2024. Observers will watch closely to see whether the U.S. and China adjust their approaches to the Taiwan issue, potentially altering the delicate balance of power in the region.

What You Need to Know

  • Source: Al Jazeera
  • Published: May 16, 2026 at 19:44 UTC
  • Category: War
  • Topics: #conflict · #war · #aljazeera · #trump · #taiwan · #china

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Curated by GlobalBR News · May 16, 2026

🇧🇷 Resumo em Português

O presidente de Taiwan, Lai Ching-te, reafirmou ontem a soberania da ilha e garantiu que manterá o status quo após declarações do ex-presidente dos EUA, Donald Trump, durante visita à China. Em meio a tensões crescentes entre Washington e Pequim, Trump declarou que se opõe à independência de Taiwan, uma fala que soou como um recuo estratégico e acendeu alertas em Taipei.

A fala de Trump, embora não seja inédita — já que os EUA tradicionalmente evitam posicionamentos explícitos sobre a independência taiwanesa —, ganhou contornos distintos em um momento de máxima pressão geopolítica. O Brasil, que mantém relações diplomáticas com a China mas também acompanha de perto os desdobramentos no Estreito de Taiwan, vê com atenção o jogo de forças entre as superpotências. Para a população lusófona, a questão não é apenas uma disputa por território, mas um reflexo das tensões globais que podem impactar economias e alianças internacionais, inclusive na América Latina. Além disso, a região se pergunta: até onde os EUA estão dispostos a ceder para evitar um confronto direto com a China?

O próximo passo deve ser uma reação mais contundente de Taiwan, que já anunciou que não recuará em sua defesa pela autodeterminação, enquanto a China intensifica sua retórica de reunificação.

🇪🇸 Resumen en Español

Taiwán refuerza su postura soberana tras las polémicas declaraciones de Donald Trump, quien, en un viaje a China, se mostró contrario a la independencia de la isla, un territorio cuya soberanía Pekín reclama como propia.

El incidente ha reavivado las tensiones en el estrecho de Taiwán, donde la isla, autogobernada desde 1949, enfrenta una presión constante de Pekín para someterse a su jurisdicción. Para los hispanohablantes, este conflicto geopolítico —con implicaciones globales en comercio, tecnología y seguridad— sirve como recordatorio de cómo las palabras de figuras internacionales pueden escalar crisis regionales, afectando incluso a aliados tradicionales de Washington. La declaración taiwanesa subraya su determinación por mantener el statu quo, pero también refleja el creciente nerviosismo en un tablero donde China no duda en marcar su territorio.