Trump’s comment citing Xi’s invasion plans alarms Taiwan, vows ‘security through own efforts’

Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry on Tuesday said that the country should rely on itself for its security after US President Donald Trump said his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, told him that Beijing would not invade the island nation while Trump was in office.

Asked about Trump’s remarks, Taiwan Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hsiao Kuang-wei said the government closely monitored interactions between senior US and Chinese officials.

“Taiwan’s security must be achieved through its own efforts, so our country has been dedicating itself to raising its self-defence capabilities and resilience. Our country will keep working hard to do this,” Hsiao told reporters in Taipei.

The United States is Taiwan’s most important international backer and arms supplier, although there are no formal diplomatic ties. There is also no defence treaty, so should China attack, Washington is under no obligation to help.

Last week, Trump said, “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’s any way it’s going to happen as long as I’m here. We’ll see.”

He added, “He told me, ‘I will never do it as long as you’re 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. ’”

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.

Last month, Taiwan launched its annual 10-day-long military exercise as China expanded its belligerent moves against the island nation, which it considers its own. The drills are intended to guard against Beijing’s expansionist behaviour.

This year’s 10-day live-fire Han Kuang drills were the longest yet and followed the delivery of a range of new weaponry from tanks to waterborne drones. The drills in Taiwan come as regional tensions and harassment by China and its People’s Liberation Army (PLA) are increasing.

With inputs from agencies