Taiwan’s relations with the United States remain “rock-solid” and ongoing cooperation will continue unchanged, President Lai Ching-te said on Thursday, following a phone call between Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump in which Taiwan was discussed.
Lai’s comments were aimed at reassuring domestic and international audiences after Xi urged Trump to “carefully” handle U.S. arms sales to the island, which Beijing claims as its own territory.
Background: Taiwan in US–China Talks
During the call on Wednesday, Xi reiterated China’s long-standing position that Taiwan is part of China and warned Washington against actions it sees as undermining its sovereignty, including arms sales to Taipei.
Taiwan is democratically governed but is claimed by Beijing, which has not ruled out the use of force to bring the island under its control. China refuses to engage with Lai, whom it labels a “separatist,” while Lai maintains that only Taiwan’s people can decide their future.
Lai’s Reassurance
Speaking to reporters in central Taiwan, Lai said Taipei and Washington maintain strong and stable communication channels. He stressed that U.S. commitments to Taiwan remain unchanged despite renewed high-level dialogue between Washington and Beijing.
“Taiwan–U.S. relations are rock-solid; all cooperation programmes will continue and will not change,” Lai said. He added that Taiwan’s status as not being part of the People’s Republic of China also remains unchanged.
US Support for Taiwan
The United States does not maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan but is the island’s most important international supporter. Under U.S. law, Washington is required to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself.
In December, the Trump administration announced $11.1 billion in arms sales to Taiwan, the largest weapons package ever approved for the island, a move that drew strong protests from Beijing.
Analysis: Reassurance Amid Strategic Uncertainty
Lai’s remarks reflect Taiwan’s need to project stability whenever U.S.–China relations show signs of diplomatic engagement. High-level contacts between Washington and Beijing often raise concerns in Taipei that Taiwan could become a bargaining chip in broader negotiations.
By emphasising continuity in U.S. policy and reaffirming Taiwan’s separate political identity, Lai sought to counter any perception that the Trump–Xi call signalled a shift in Washington’s approach. For Taipei, maintaining confidence in U.S. backing is critical as China continues military pressure around the island and uses diplomatic channels to press its claims.
With information from Reuters.
