As he headed to Asia for a diplomatic swing expected to include a meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, Donald Trump appeared wary of responding to questions from reporters on one of the thorniest issues in US-China relations: Taiwan.
Trump confirmed that the self-ruling democracy would be among topics discussed in the upcoming meeting with Xi, expected to take place on the sidelines of the APEC summit in South Korea next week.
But the US president had little to say on the subject when pressed by reporters traveling on Air Force One.
Asked whether he would consider changing US policy on Taiwan, Trump said he didn’t “want to talk about that now.”
The US president also said it “would be very dangerous” for China to make any move on Taiwan, when asked by a reporter why he had earlier said he did not think China wanted to invade the island.
Here’s some background: China’s ruling Communist Party claims self-governing Taiwan as its own, despite never having ruled it, and has vowed to take control of it, by force if necessary. Beijing in recent years has ramped up its military, economic and diplomatic pressure on Taipei.
The US maintains a close unofficial relationship with Taiwan and is required by law to provide it with the means for its defense – a relationship that irks Chinese officials and is seen by Beijing as the most sensitive issue among a host of frictions with the US.
Under Washington’s longstanding “One China” policy, the US acknowledges China’s position that Taiwan is part of China but has never officially recognized Beijing’s claim to the island of 23 million people. Washington has long maintained a policy that that it does not support Taiwan’s independence.
Analysts believe that Xi hopes for a key concession from Trump: a change in US policy to “oppose Taiwan independence.”
