Trump Warns Taiwan Against Independence After US-China Summit

US President Donald Trump issued a warning to Taiwan against a formal declaration of independence on May 15, 2026, following the conclusion of a state visit to China. The warning came after Chinese President Xi Jinping pressed the US leader to refrain from supporting the self-governing island during bilateral talks in Beijing.

The summit, which included a tour of the Hall of Prayer of Good Harvest at the Temple of Heaven on May 14, 2026, saw both leaders navigating a complex relationship. While Trump claimed to have secured fantastic trade deals, he did not provide specific details regarding the agreements.

Stance on Taiwan Independence

During an interview with Fox News’ Special Report with Bret Baier, Trump expressed opposition to Taiwan formally declaring independence from China.

“I’m not looking to have somebody go independent. And, you know, we’re supposed to travel 9,500 miles to fight a war. I’m not looking for that,”Donald Trump, speaking to Fox News

The US president further emphasized a desire for regional stability, stating his wish for both parties to de-escalate tensions.

“I want them to cool down. I want China to cool down. We’re not looking to have wars and if you kept it the way it is, I think China’s going to be OK with that,”Donald Trump

The warning follows a summit where Xi Jinping cautioned that missteps regarding Taiwan could lead to conflict. Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te has maintained that Taiwan does not require a formal declaration of independence because it already views itself as a sovereign nation.

While the United States recognizes only Beijing and does not support formal independence for Taiwan, the US is legally required to provide the island with weapons for its defense. However, Trump appeared to question the necessity of US military intervention, noting on his return flight to Washington that he had declined to discuss whether the US would defend the island in the event of an attack.

Following comments by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who stated that US policy toward Taipei remains unchanged, Taiwan’s foreign ministry issued a statement thanking the United States for showing that it supports and values Taiwan Strait peace and stability.

Trade and Economic Developments

Despite the lack of specific details on the broader trade agreements, Boeing confirmed on May 15, 2026, that China had made an initial commitment to purchase 200 aircraft. The company noted that additional orders could potentially follow this deal, which had been previously announced by Trump.

Trump also stated that Beijing would purchase American soybeans, and oil. Speaking after a walk with Xi Jinping in the gardens of Zhongnanhai, Trump characterized the trade outcomes as significant.

“We’ve made some fantastic trade deals, great for both countries. We’ve settled a lot of different problems that other people wouldn’t have been able to solve,”Donald Trump

President Xi described the summit as a milestone visit and promised to send rose seeds to the White House Rose Garden. However, beyond the Boeing commitment, there were no other formal announcements from Chinese companies or the Chinese government regarding trade deals.

Jacob Stokes, a senior fellow at the Centre for a New American Security, observed that while Trump achieved the desired optics for the visit, the Chinese response remained relatively muted.

Diplomacy Regarding Iran and Hong Kong

The visit was also marked by discussions regarding the ongoing war in Iran, a conflict that had previously caused Trump to delay his trip. The war has impacted global markets, with Iran exerting control over the Strait of Hormuz and causing oil prices to rise.

Trump stated that Xi Jinping assured him that China was not preparing to provide military aid to Iran. On May 15, 2026, the Chinese foreign ministry released a statement noting that shipping lanes should be reopened as soon as possible.

Diplomatic efforts also touched upon the case of Jimmy Lai, the imprisoned Hong Kong pro-democracy media tycoon. Trump acknowledged that he was unable to persuade Xi to release Lai.

“He told me, Jimmy Lai is a tough one for him to do,”Donald Trump, speaking to reporters

Bonnie Glaser, managing director of the German Marshall Fund’s Indo-Pacific program, suggested that the Chinese government may perceive the release of Lai as a low priority for the United States, noting that Trump’s primary focus appeared to be the purchase of American products.

The two leaders also had the opportunity to discuss extending the one-year tariff truce that began following their October 2025 meeting, but Trump informed reporters on his return flight that the topic was not brought up during the summit.