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Trump warns Taiwan can’t declare independence from China after Xi Jinping summit as island issues stern response
The Sun ^

Posted on 05/16/2026 9:58:32 AM PDT by USA-FRANCE

DONALD Trump has warned Taiwan not to declare independence after his crunch talks with Xi Jinping at his Beijing summit.

The US president revealed Xi asked him directly if America would intervene in the event of a Chinese invasion to which he refused to answer.


TOPICS: China; Editorial; News/Current Events; Taiwan
KEYWORDS: fakenews; redchina; taiwan
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Taiwan then responded by saying it is already a “sovereign and independent democratic country.” And that is true.

I don’t think America should in any way support CCP’s demands. Likewise and following the same logic, we should not support a Two-State solution concerning Israel. There should be only one state.

About Taiwan, thankfully Trump said this though: “The US president revealed Xi asked him directly if America would intervene in the event of a Chinese invasion to which he refused to answer.”

That’s the best answer to give.

1 posted on 05/16/2026 9:58:32 AM PDT by USA-FRANCE
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To: USA-FRANCE

Didn’t our state department gave China to the communists after WWII?


2 posted on 05/16/2026 10:08:29 AM PDT by dljordan (Yeah, I'm a Boomer and it's all my fault you whiny little bitch.)
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To: USA-FRANCE

I don’t know why this is still a question. Didn’t Nixon reach an agreement with Mao about Taiwan in the ‘70s? Shouldnt we honor our agreements?


3 posted on 05/16/2026 10:09:42 AM PDT by rod5591
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To: USA-FRANCE

Not very often. But a public statement against ROC Taiwan independence is/ was a serious mistake that only encourages the communists to speed up their attack plans. Better to have kept quiet on this


4 posted on 05/16/2026 10:10:12 AM PDT by faithhopecharity ("Politicians aren't born, they're excreted." Marcus Tullius Cicero (106 to 43 BCE))
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To: USA-FRANCE

Search Assist

Historically, Taiwan, known as Formosa, has never been a part of China. Various political entities controlled parts of the island before it was colonized by foreign powers, and it was only under the Qing dynasty from 1683 to 1895 that it was governed by a Chinese empire.
fapa.org Wikipedia
Japan’s rule over Formosa (Taiwan) ended in October 1945 after its surrender in World War II, and the island was placed under the control of the Republic of China.
Wikipedia United Press International

The Republic of China (ROC) was established on January 1, 1912, following the Xinhai Revolution, which ended the Qing dynasty and marked the beginning of modern China. It governed mainland China until 1949, when the Communist Party proclaimed the People’s Republic of China, leading the ROC government to retreat to Taiwan, where it continues to exist today.
Wikipedia


5 posted on 05/16/2026 10:11:21 AM PDT by ryderann
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To: faithhopecharity

This is called negotiation.


6 posted on 05/16/2026 10:11:50 AM PDT by gibsonguy
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To: faithhopecharity

> Better to have kept quiet on this <

Totally agree. Plus I would think it’s up to the citizens of Taiwan to make that call.
No outsider should be preaching to them.


7 posted on 05/16/2026 10:13:51 AM PDT by Leaning Right
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To: USA-FRANCE

” Likewise and following the same logic, we should not support”

Who is “we”?

Do you have a captive American in your pocket?


8 posted on 05/16/2026 10:14:22 AM PDT by Mariner (War Criminal #18)
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To: USA-FRANCE

I assume Trump has been briefed on the ground truth about Xi’s power in China and is speaking at the strategic level. Xi has effectively been removed from command of the PLA and the CMC following his purging of Gen. Zhang and Gen. Liu. The Central Committee agrees with Gen. Zhang’s position that an invasion of Taiwan would be too costly for China, and would not enact any orders from Xi to the contrary.

Their real strategy is to undermine the political structure in Taiwan as they did in Hong Kong, with the goal of tricking them into voting for reunification without a shot being fired.

Trump understands that the battle is not about bullets, but ballots. If he appears to side with the Taiwan independence movement, it will be interpreted as foreign interference domestically, and could jeopardize the political battle to keep them from voting for reunification.


9 posted on 05/16/2026 10:14:34 AM PDT by Dave Wright
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To: rod5591

This is such a ridiculous discussion - and it keeps coming up.

The United States had a “two Chinas” policy for 24 years (1949-1973). The United States has had a one China policy for FIFTY-THREE YEARS.

It isn’t really our business if the government of Taiwan declares independence, or doesn’t. It BECOMES our business if they believe the US would revert to a two-China policy and then fight a war over it.

Why worry about something that is never going to happen?


10 posted on 05/16/2026 10:22:00 AM PDT by Jim Noble (Assez de mensonges et des phrases)
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To: USA-FRANCE

I think China is more likely to repossess Russian territory first.


11 posted on 05/16/2026 10:22:37 AM PDT by enduserindy
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To: USA-FRANCE

The US won’t stop China from taking Taiwan. It will happen someday, exactly when only China knows.


12 posted on 05/16/2026 10:29:10 AM PDT by rexthecat
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To: USA-FRANCE

Sounds like the Sun has fabricated any such warning just to write a headline.


13 posted on 05/16/2026 10:29:54 AM PDT by frog in a pot (Are they already inside the wire? See open borders and not paying TSA payroll during war.)
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To: Leaning Right

Agree! Totally unnecessary for Trump to have said anything!
Another example of mouth outrunning brain!


14 posted on 05/16/2026 10:32:19 AM PDT by Reily
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To: All

China is never militarily invading Taiwan.
They might take it diplomatically in the future I guess


15 posted on 05/16/2026 10:33:43 AM PDT by escapefromboston (Peace, commerce and honest friendship with all nations, entangling alliances with none.)
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To: dljordan

“...Didn’t our state department gave China to the communists after WWII?...”

Yep...pretty much so.
The US had a whole detachment on mainland China out of the 1st Marine Division. They were made up of hard-core, battle-hardened Marines that were there to eradicate the Japanese out of China. They could have ended that BS “revolution” in no time IF given permission to do so. They were ordered to completely stay out of the fight and NOT even give a single bullet to assist in defense against it.
How do I know this? My father was one of those Marines and cussed that “executive decision”, and those that made it, the rest of his whole life....


16 posted on 05/16/2026 10:36:27 AM PDT by lgjhn23 ("On the 8th day, Satan created the progressive liberal to destroy all the good that God created...")
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To: faithhopecharity

“Better to have kept quiet on this”

He did. He refused to answer on whether he would come running for Taiwan. But he would not like to see a war started there.

wy69


17 posted on 05/16/2026 10:40:49 AM PDT by whitney69
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To: USA-FRANCE
China must know anything of strategic value will be destroyed rather then let if fail into their hands. The factories probably are all wired to go (how'd you like working there) Lets say they invade Taiwan and it all great then what - they got a smoldering ash heap of mountainous island 100 miles off their coast. During the war China's mainland will be hit, Taiwan will retaliate with drones - I'm sure they've been taking copious notes from the Ukraine and Iran conflicts.

Taiwan knows they have the best semiconductor fabrication ability in the world at the time of AI revolution and everyone will want/need these chips and pay top dollar so Taiwan can tell president Trump what they want

The USA knows Xi isn't that strong starting a war over Taiwan in the current context is big loser for China

Everyone benefits from the current situation remaining exactly the same - nothing changes except the USA strategically repositioning in a manner that it looks like there is a high probability it will be able to keep Pandora Xi Empire the current size and mess up his Silk Road project

I understand president Trump wanting them to keep it down while he negotiating with them but honestly what would you expect the Taiwanese to say?

Emperor Xi and president Trump both know Xi's China won't do it and even if it could it doesn't have the balls to pull the trigger in such a risk adverse environment

18 posted on 05/16/2026 10:42:43 AM PDT by datricker (Go Trump/Vance! )
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To: USA-FRANCE

I love Trump as President, but IMHO he needs to stay in his lane more. He’s already extended us in Iran, which I support. But there’s only so much we can do at one time.

Perhaps his statement is some sort of condition of deal with Xi.

Would rather he resolve Cuba first. He kinda needs a victory soon.

Likely there is something in the background that we’re not privy to.

My two kroons.


19 posted on 05/16/2026 10:43:04 AM PDT by Eccl 10:2 (Prov 3:5 --- "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding")
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To: faithhopecharity
But a public statement against ROC Taiwan independence is/ was a serious mistake that only encourages the communists to speed up their attack plans

And that's probably the key to what Trump secretly told Taiwan ...

Probably something like, "If you declare independence and cause China to invade, we won't support you; but if China attacks first, without any provocation, we will back you up"


20 posted on 05/16/2026 10:43:12 AM PDT by canuck_conservative (Russia lies all the time)
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