Taiwan-China Tensions Persist After Trump-Xi Summit

Tensions between Taiwan and China remain unresolved following a summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, with Taipei rejecting Beijing’s latest statements on the Taiwan issue and reaffirming its commitment to maintaining the status quo across the Taiwan Strait.

Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said China had continued to advance what it described as distorted claims following the Trump-Xi meeting. The ministry pointed to a statement from China’s Foreign Ministry urging the United States to “prudently handle the Taiwan issue”, oppose “Taiwan independence” and create a foundation for strategic cooperation between Washington and Beijing.

Taipei rejected those demands, reiterating that the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the People’s Republic of China are not subordinate to each other. It said Taiwan’s sovereignty rests with its people and that Beijing has no authority to represent them.

The Taiwan government also said the island’s future should be determined by its people collectively and through democratic means.

President Lai Ching-te has repeatedly described Taiwan as a responsible actor committed to preserving peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and in the wider region. The Foreign Ministry said maintaining the status quo remains the government’s position and what it described as the strongest consensus among Taiwan’s 23 million people.

Taipei also accused Beijing of using what it described as “gray-zone harassment” and military pressure in the Taiwan Strait, the East and South China Seas and waters and areas surrounding Taiwan. The ministry said such activities were undermining regional peace and stability.

China regards Taiwan as part of its territory and has consistently opposed moves towards formal Taiwanese independence. Beijing has also maintained that it reserves the option of using force to prevent what it considers separatist activity.

Taiwan, meanwhile, pointed to statements by governments supporting peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. It said several countries raised the issue during the United Nations General Assembly ahead of the Trump-Xi summit.

Taipei cited a joint statement by the foreign ministers of the United States, Japan and South Korea, as well as a separate statement involving Australia, France, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, Poland, South Korea and the United Kingdom. According to Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry, the statements stressed the importance of maintaining peace and stability and opposed unilateral changes to the status quo.

The ministry also said more than 60 members of the US House of Representatives and Senate from both major political parties had expressed support for Taiwan.

Taipei said it would continue working with Washington and other partners to preserve peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait while promoting freedom, openness and economic prosperity in the region.

The latest exchange shows that the Taiwan issue remains a significant point of contention in US-China relations even after the Trump-Xi summit, with Beijing pressing Washington to adopt its position on Taiwan while Taipei continues to reject China’s sovereignty claims.

Source: FSX Business News