Trump told Xi ‘I don’t talk about’ whether U.S. would defend Taiwan from China
https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/15/trump-china-xi-taiwan.html
Trump told Xi ‘I don’t talk about’ whether U.S. would defend Taiwan from China
https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/15/trump-china-xi-taiwan.html
12 Comments
President Donald Trump said he refused to directly answer Chinese President Xi Jinping when asked if the United States would defend Taiwan if it were attacked by China.
“That question was asked to me today by President Xi. I said I don’t talk about that,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One as he flew back to the U.S.
Xi warned Trump at the start of their two-day summit in Beijing that the U.S. and China “will have clashes and even conflicts” if the long-standing issue of Taiwan’s independence is mishandled.
I heard “Pleeeeeeease don’t make me make that decision!”
The stance is pretty clear. The US will not adjust their stance on Taiwan.
One of the few strategic utterances this president has made (to be polemical).
Strategic obfuscation here is the right way, as that will save Taiwanese, Chinese and American lives
He’s phrased it that way a couple of times already.
Almost like it’s something someone spent a great deal of time and effort drill that into his head.
(thank you whoever did)
I wish someone would defend America from Donald Trump.
Holy crap Trumpnfinally did something right. The policy of ambiguity has served us well with Taiwan. Sell them some more weapons
This is like the first time I’ve heard him say something sensible foreign policy wise. Surely this was Rubio coaching him?
On at least three separate occasions, Biden ‘slipped’ and said the US would defend Taiwan from a Chinese attack, with the White House then walking back his comments and saying the US stance on Taiwan hasn’t changed.
It’s interesting that Xi directly posed the question to Trump. I don’t think we’ve ever heard a Chinese President ask that to a US President. Perhaps he was seeking some clarification after Biden’s repeated ‘lapses.’
And I use ‘slipped’ and ‘lapses’ like that because, after saying the same thing multiple times, it doesn’t seem like an accident. It seems like a message to China that we will intervene, couched behind a quirky and somewhat senile President.
I mean who actually tips their hand about war and how they would respond?
Seems like nothing. Trump was in negotiations with Iran before claiming they failed and attacked them.
(Edit). Does trump really need to draw a red line and outright tell China not to attack Taiwan? Go souring relations when there is other business to handle.
Sure trump might not want to defend them, but it’s in the US’s interest to and for Taiwan to stay independent. Otherwise we wind up with the same issue we’re having with Iran, Hormuz and oil, but with China, Taiwan and semiconductors.
I’m surprised that he actually did the right thing by not answering. I kinda expected him to sell out Taiwan
TRA is a strong urge to defend, and conditions diplomatic recognition of PRC on peaceful cross-strait relationship. It’s traditionally soft-pedaled to not make the Communist leadership lose face on their traditional goal.