China responded to US President Donald Trump’s statement that Chinese President Xi Jinping promised not to attack Taiwan while Trump was in office.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning – Photo: DD NEWS

According to Reuters on August 18, at a regular press conference in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning affirmed: “Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory. The Taiwan issue is purely China’s internal affair, and its resolution is up to the Chinese people to decide.”

She stressed that China has always strived for peaceful unification, but “will never allow anyone or any force to separate Taiwan from China in any form.”

Earlier on August 16, in an interview with Fox News, Mr. Trump said that Mr. Xi Jinping had pledged not to take military action against Taiwan until Mr. Trump’s term ends in 2028.

On Taiwan’s side, in a response on August 17, the Taiwanese government said it is always “closely monitoring interactions between US and Chinese officials”.

Taiwan affirms that it will continue to cooperate with countries with strategic interests in the Indo-Pacific region to maintain peace and stability in the island’s strait.

The US is currently Taiwan’s most important partner and a major arms supplier, although the two sides do not have formal diplomatic relations.

China has always considered Taiwan part of its territory, pledged to reunify the island and affirmed that it has never given up the possibility of using force. Meanwhile, Taiwan vehemently rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims.

Beijing also frequently describes the Taiwan issue as the most important and sensitive topic in its relations with Washington.