Trump says Xi assured no invasion of Taiwan while he is president

President Donald Trump said Chinese President Xi Jinping personally assured him that Beijing would not invade Taiwan while Trump remains in the White House, a claim that arrives as Washington-Beijing tensions persist and as Trump travels to Alaska for a meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Trump recounted the pledge during a Fox News interview, saying Xi told him, “I will never do it as long as you’re president,” adding that China is “very patient” and that there is “no way it’s going to happen as long as I’m here.”

The assertion arrives amid a broader, high-stakes conversation about Taiwan’s future and the United States’ role in the region. China views Taiwan as part of its territory and has pledged to reunify by force if necessary, a stance that Taiwan rejects. Beijing emphasizes that Taiwan is a sensitive issue in China–U.S. relations and has urged Washington to follow the One China policy and the three joint communiqués while handling Taiwan-related matters prudently to preserve peace across the Taiwan Strait. Taiwan’s government, for its part, says it will continue to work with international partners to maintain stability, and it monitors interactions between...