Trump says Xi told him China will not invade Taiwan while he is US president

WASHINGTON - US President Donald Trump said on Aug 15 that Chinese President Xi Jinping told him China would not invade Taiwan while Mr Trump is in office.

He made the comments in an interview with Fox News, ahead of

talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.

“I will tell you, you know, you have a very similar thing with President Xi of China and Taiwan, but I don’t believe there is any way it is going to happen as long as I am here. We will see,” Mr Trump said during an interview on Fox News’ Special Report programme.

“He told me, ‘I will never do it as long as you are president.’ President Xi told me that, and I said, ‘Well, I appreciate that,’ but he also said, ‘But I am very patient, and China is very patient,’” the US leader said.

The Chinese Embassy in Washington on Aug 15 described the topic of Taiwan as “the most important and sensitive issue” in China-US relations. “The US government should adhere to the one-China principle and the three US-China joint communiques, handle Taiwan-related issues prudently, and earnestly safeguard China-US relations and peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait,” spokesperson Liu Pengyu said in a statement.

Mr Trump and Mr Xi held their first confirmed call of Mr Trump's second presidential term in June. Mr Trump also said in April that Mr Xi had called him but did not specify when that call took place.

China views Taiwan as its own territory and has vowed to reunify with the democratic and separately governed island, by force if necessary. Taiwan strongly objects to China’s sovereignty claims.

Although Washington is Taiwan's main arms supplier and international backer, the US – like most countries – has no formal diplomatic ties with the island. REUTERS