Trump Claims Assurances from Xi Jinping on Taiwan Amid Tensions

Mon Nov 03 2025 02:20:41 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a recent interview, President Trump stated that Chinese President Xi Jinping assured him Taiwan would not face military action while he remains in office. This claim raises questions about US-China relations and the delicate status of Taiwan.

President Donald Trump claimed that Chinese President Xi Jinping has assured him of no military action towards Taiwan during his presidency. This statement, made during an interview, occurs against a backdrop of long-standing tensions regarding Taiwan's status. While the Taiwan Relations Act does not obligate the US to intervene militarily in case of an attack, it emphasizes support for Taiwan's defense. This development might impact ongoing US-China relations, which have been challenged by trade tensions and conflicting interests in the region.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President Donald Trump claims that Chinese President Xi Jinping has assured him that no military action will be taken towards Taiwan while he is in office. This assurance, according to Trump, was expressed during their recent discussions in South Korea which primarily focused on U.S.-China trade tensions.

Trump stated, He has openly said, and his people have openly said at meetings, ‘We would never do anything while President Trump is president,’ because they know the consequences,” in an excerpt from his interview with CBS’ program “60 Minutes.”

Concerns regarding potential military action by China against Taiwan, a self-governing entity that Beijing claims as its territory, have persisted among U.S. officials. The 1979 Taiwan Relations Act plays a pivotal role in this context as it does not obligate military intervention from the U.S. should China invade Taiwan. However, it mandates that the U.S. ensures Taiwan is equipped to defend itself and avoid any unilateral changes to the island's status by Beijing.

When asked whether he would order U.S. forces to defend Taiwan in the event of an attack by China, Trump refrained from committing, echoing the long-standing U.S. policy of 'strategic ambiguity' towards Taiwan.

Trump also expressed confidence born from his discussions with Xi, saying, You’ll find out if it happens, and he understands the answer to that.” Meanwhile, Liu Pengyu, spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington, did not directly confirm the assurances claimed by Trump but emphasized that Taiwan is an internal matter for China, insisting that it will not allow separation.

The White House has not provided specific details regarding any assurances from Xi regarding military action towards Taiwan while Trump remains president.

This interview marks Trump’s first appearance on '60 Minutes' since settling a lawsuit with CBS News over another contentious interview with Vice President Kamala Harris. The remaining part of this interview is scheduled to air later.