President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping spoke by phone on Wednesday. Trump later posted on Truth Social that Taiwan was part of the discussion.
China’s Foreign Ministry repeated its position that Taiwan is part of China and urged Washington to be cautious about its arms sales. Beijing said Trump acknowledged China’s concerns and agreed to stay in communication to keep U.S.–China relations stable.
Taiwan President Lai Ching-Te said on Thursday that ties with the United States remain strong and unchanged. He also stressed that Taiwan does not belong to China. Meanwhile, Taiwan’s opposition has once again blocked a plan to spend about $40 billion on defense over the next eight years. President Lai warned that the move could put Taiwan at risk.
The U.S. State Department and lawmakers from both parties have also responded to the development.