Trump’s ‘unification’ comment was about US-China trade, says US mission in Taipei

TAIPEI - US President Donald Trump’s comment on “unification” was about the US-China trade relationship and US policy towards Taiwan has not changed, the de facto embassy on the island said on May 13, after the wording caused unease in Taipei.

China claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory and has vowed to “reunify” with the island, by force if necessary. Taiwan’s government rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims, saying only the island’s people can decide their future.

Washington and Beijing on May 12 agreed to

slash steep tariffs for at least 90 days,

pausing their trade war, a move Mr Trump praised when speaking to reporters at the White House.

“They’ve agreed to open China, fully open China, and I think it’s going to be fantastic for China, I think it’s going to be fantastic for us, and I think it’s going to be great for unification and peace,” he said, without mentioning Taiwan.

In a statement, the American Institute in Taiwan, which operates as the de facto embassy in the absence of formal diplomatic ties, said Mr Trump was speaking about US-China trade.

“It’s clear President Trump was speaking in the context of the US-China trade relationship,” a spokesperson said. “US policy on Taiwan remains the same, and the US approach to Taiwan has remained consistent across decades and administrations.”

Taiwan’s presidential office, in a separate statement, noted the US comment that Mr Trump was referring to trade talks with China and not Taiwan.

“The US commitment to Taiwan remains strong and unchanged,” spokeswoman Karen Kuo said, adding that Taiwan’s understanding was that the US-China trade talks did not touch on Taiwan-related issues.

Mr Trump’s remarks created concern in some government and diplomatic circles in Taiwan on whether US policy towards the island had changed, seven sources told Reuters.

“Is he going to change the status quo, accepting the annexation of Taiwan?” one of the sources said, a senior official who declined to be identified due to the sensitivity of the matter.

The US government officially recognises only the government in Beijing and does not take a position on Taiwan’s sovereignty, only acknowledging China’s position on the subject under Washington’s longstanding “one China policy”.

Washington is bound by law to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself and has repeatedly expressed condemnation of stepped-up Chinese military activities, including the latest round of war games in April. REUTERS