In a significant development for international relations in East Asia, Taiwan officially welcomed the recent phone call between US President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping . Taipei considered this direct communication between the leaders of the world's two largest economies a positive step that could contribute to greater stability in the region, particularly given the escalating tensions in the Taiwan Strait.
Taiwan's stance: Welcome and confidence
Taiwan's Vice Foreign Minister Chen Ming-chi , speaking to AFP, expressed his country's satisfaction with the dialogue, saying, "We are not worried about this phone call; on the contrary, we believe it will contribute to stabilizing the situation, especially as China continues to escalate tensions in the Taiwan Strait and throughout the region." The Taiwanese official added, "I think we welcome these efforts aimed at achieving security stability in this region," noting that open dialogue between Washington and Beijing could reduce the chances of military miscalculation.
Details of the call between Trump and Xi
This Taiwanese welcome came after a phone call that US President Donald Trump described as "excellent." Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform that the US relationship with China, and his personal relationship with President Xi, were "excellent." For his part, the Xinhua News Agency reported that Chinese President Xi Jinping, during the call, called for "mutual respect" to strengthen relations with Washington, while emphasizing the need for caution and sensitivity regarding the Taiwan issue, which Beijing considers a matter of sovereignty and a red line in its foreign relations.
Geopolitical context and strategic importance
This event is particularly significant given the complex historical and political context of the trilateral relationship. While China considers Taiwan an integral part of its territory and has threatened to use force to annex it if necessary, the United States is obligated under the Taiwan Relations Act to provide the island with the means to defend itself, despite the absence of formal diplomatic relations between Washington and Taipei. This call comes at a time when China has intensified its military exercises and air and naval movements around the island, raising regional and international concerns about the potential for conflict.
US-Taiwan relations: Rock solid
In a related development, Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te on Thursday the strength of the informal alliance with the United States. He stated that relations between Taipei and Washington are "rock solid," emphasizing that existing cooperation programs between the two sides will continue and will not be affected by external pressures. The Taiwanese president's statement underscores the island's confidence in continued US support, regardless of the nature of the diplomatic dialogue between Washington and Beijing, as Taiwan strives to maintain its democratic status and its thriving economy, which plays a pivotal role in the global technology industry.
