Taiwan has pushed back strongly against recent remarks made by Chinese President Xi Jinping during discussions with former US President Donald Trump, asserting that China remains the “sole risk” to peace and stability in the region amid heightened geopolitical tensions over the island’s status.The exchange comes at a time when the Taiwan issue has once again taken centre stage in US-China relations.

Trump, ahead of the high-profile summit, indicated that he would raise US arms sales to Taiwan during his discussions with Xi Jinping. This position marks a notable shift from the longstanding US practice of avoiding consultations with Beijing over its defence support to the self-governed island.Trump’s delegation to the summit included several top officials from his administration, among them Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.

The delegation also featured leading figures from global industry, including Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Apple CEO Tim Cook, and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, underscoring the economic and strategic weight attached to the meeting.During his interaction with Xi, Trump adopted a notably conciliatory tone, praising the Chinese leader and describing him as “a great leader.”

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He added that he often makes such statements publicly despite criticism, insisting that his assessment was sincere. The remarks reflect an effort to maintain a cooperative tone amid ongoing strategic and economic tensions between Washington and Beijing.The Taiwan question remains a central point of friction in the relationship between the two powers.China has repeatedly asserted its claim over Taiwan and has not ruled out the use of force to achieve unification.

In recent years, Beijing has increased military activity and pressure around the island, further heightening concerns among Western allies and regional stakeholders.Taiwanese officials, in response to Xi’s comments, reiterated that the primary threat to regional peace stems from China’s actions. They maintain that increasing military pressure and coercive diplomacy are destabilising the status quo in the Taiwan Strait, while continuing to call for international support in preserving regional security and deterrence.

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