Busan, South Korea / Washington, DC – United States President Donald Trump has stated that his Chinese counterpart, President Xi Jinping, personally assured him that China will not attempt to forcibly unify Taiwan with the mainland while Trump remains in office. The comment comes amid renewed geopolitical tensions and ongoing US-China trade negotiations.

Trump and Xi Meet for First Time in Six Years

Speaking with CBS’s 60 Minutes, Trump confirmed that the issue of Taiwan, a self-governed island democracy claimed by Beijing, was deliberately avoided during his meeting with Xi in Busan, South Korea. The visit marked the pair’s first face-to-face encounter in over six years and focused primarily on easing US-China trade frictions.

“He has openly said, and his people have openly said in meetings, ‘We would never do anything while President Trump is president,’ because they know the consequences,” Trump said during the interview, which was recorded at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.

Trump stopped short of clarifying what “consequences” China might face if it attempted to seize Taiwan militarily. Pressed by CBS on whether he would order US military intervention in the event of a Chinese attack, Trump invoked the longstanding US strategy of “strategic ambiguity.”

“You’ll find out if it happens, and he [Xi] understands the answer to that,” Trump said, declining to provide specifics.

Strategic Ambiguity and Taiwan Relations Act

For decades, both Republican and Democratic administrations in the US have upheld a policy designed to deter China from invading Taiwan without explicitly committing to defend the island militarily. This approach is codified in the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act, which obligates the US to provide defensive arms to Taiwan and oppose any unilateral change in its status by Beijing.

The law, however, does not require direct US military intervention, leaving Washington’s response to a potential conflict uncertain.

China Reiterates Claims Over Taiwan

A spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, DC, Liu Pengyu, did not comment directly on Trump’s claims of private assurances from Xi. However, he issued a statement emphasizing Beijing’s long-held position:

“The Taiwan question is China’s internal affair, and it is the core of China’s core interests. How to resolve the Taiwan question is a matter for the Chinese people ourselves, and only the Chinese people can decide it,” Liu said, adding that China would “never allow any person or force to separate Taiwan from China in any way.”

The White House declined to provide additional details on when or how Xi conveyed assurances to Trump about Taiwan. Some officials familiar with the discussions say both leaders were keen to avoid escalating tensions during a period of volatile economic negotiations.

Trump’s CBS Interview: A Controversial Return

The 60 Minutes appearance marked President Trump’s return to the program following a heated legal battle earlier this year. Trump filed a lawsuit alleging that CBS News deceptively edited a 2024 interview with then–Vice President Kamala Harris to favor Democrats in the presidential race, initially seeking $10bn in damages. The lawsuit was settled out of court after Trump raised the claim to $20bn.

In the new interview, Trump reiterated his tough posture toward China while expressing confidence in his diplomatic relationship with Xi.

“He’s a very smart man, and he knows better than to test us,” Trump said. “The other side knows.”

Growing Military Tensions in the Asia-Pacific

The Taiwan issue remains one of the most sensitive flashpoints in US-China relations. With China’s military modernization accelerating and the US expanding its presence in the Indo-Pacific, analysts warn that miscalculation could trigger a wider conflict.

Just last week, China conducted large-scale military exercises near Taiwan, prompting Taipei to accuse Beijing of intimidation. Meanwhile, Washington has boosted naval patrols in the South China Sea, deepening Beijing’s concern about US support for regional allies like Japan, the Philippines, and South Korea.

While Trump insists that Xi will not make any moves during his presidency, defense experts caution that strategic ambiguity alone may not be enough to deter China from asserting pressure on Taiwan in years to come.