Trump Departs for China: Former White House Official Emphasizes Caution on Sensitive Taiwan Issue
As US President Trump visits China, a former White House National Security Council spokesperson stressed the need for extreme caution and precise wording when discussing the Taiwan issue, given its geopolitical sensitivity.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 13, 2026 at 17:06
- 🔍 Collected: May 13, 2026 at 17:32 (25 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 14, 2026 at 01:58 (8h 25m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency, Beijing, 13th, comprehensive foreign news report) As US President Trump visits China this week, Washington's policy towards Taiwan may once again become a focal point. Former White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby, drawing on his own experience, stated that officials must be extremely cautious when discussing the Taiwan issue, emphasizing the criticality of precise wording.
Associated Press reported that for nearly 50 years, US presidents have always walked on thin ice when articulating US policy towards Taiwan and China, because even a slight misstep in wording could trigger geopolitical upheaval.
The US "One China policy" recognizes China's claim that Taiwan is part of China, while simultaneously maintaining unofficial relations with Taiwan.
US policy towards Taiwan deliberately retains ambiguity and is built on the foundation of so-called "strategic ambiguity." That is, if China attempts to unilaterally change the status quo by force, the US agrees to ensure Taiwan has the resources for self-defense, but it does not clearly state what degree of military action the US would take against Beijing.
US policy towards Taiwan carefully maintains a balance, aiming to safeguard Taiwan's security and sovereignty without making excessive commitments that would provoke Beijing. Some US officials have previously misspoken on this issue, forcing the government to swiftly undertake diplomatic remedial measures.
John Kirby, former spokesperson for the National Security Council during President Joe Biden's White House, stated: "The key is that the wording must be precise. Discussions on the Taiwan issue must be extremely precise because, frankly, there are significant stakes involved." He also served as a spokesperson for the State Department and the Pentagon.
Miles Yu, former principal advisor on China policy to then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo during Trump's first administration and currently the director of the Hudson Institute's China Center, pointed out: "It is indeed very difficult to deal with these (cross-strait) concepts; however, many misunderstandings and misstatements occur because these concepts themselves are conceptual traps set by China. You cannot explain something that is inherently unexplainable."
Yu believes that the US should more firmly express its commitment to defending Taiwan. He said that whether it's the "One China policy" or Beijing's asserted "One China principle," they are "concepts entirely constructed by China."
Yu also mentioned: "Senior Chinese officials have never truly believed there is any ambiguity in the US's resolve to defend Taiwan."
He pointed out that, on the contrary, the US has long formulated corresponding plans to defend Taiwan based on the degree of threat from China, evidenced by Washington's several deployments of military forces to the Taiwan Strait during periods of tension over the years.
Nevertheless, Kirby stated: "Anyone who has ever spoken from the podium at the State Department, the Pentagon, or the White House knows that when it comes to the Taiwan issue, one must consult notes and not improvise freely."
Kirby revealed that if any significant gaffe occurs, it will first provoke protests from US policy officials, who will unequivocally express their displeasure and "strongly demand an immediate corrective statement." (Translation: Hung Pei-ying) 1150513
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship you make is the strength to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency "First-hand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.
(Central News Agency, Beijing, 13th, comprehensive foreign news report) As US President Trump visits China this week, Washington's policy towards Taiwan may once again become a focal point. Former White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby, drawing on his own experience, stated that officials must be extremely cautious when discussing the Taiwan issue, emphasizing the criticality of precise wording.
Associated Press reported that for nearly 50 years, US presidents have always walked on thin ice when articulating US policy towards Taiwan and China, because even a slight misstep in wording could trigger geopolitical upheaval.
The US "One China policy" recognizes China's claim that Taiwan is part of China, while simultaneously maintaining unofficial relations with Taiwan.
US policy towards Taiwan deliberately retains ambiguity and is built on the foundation of so-called "strategic ambiguity." That is, if China attempts to unilaterally change the status quo by force, the US agrees to ensure Taiwan has the resources for self-defense, but it does not clearly state what degree of military action the US would take against Beijing.
US policy towards Taiwan carefully maintains a balance, aiming to safeguard Taiwan's security and sovereignty without making excessive commitments that would provoke Beijing. Some US officials have previously misspoken on this issue, forcing the government to swiftly undertake diplomatic remedial measures.
John Kirby, former spokesperson for the National Security Council during President Joe Biden's White House, stated: "The key is that the wording must be precise. Discussions on the Taiwan issue must be extremely precise because, frankly, there are significant stakes involved." He also served as a spokesperson for the State Department and the Pentagon.
Miles Yu, former principal advisor on China policy to then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo during Trump's first administration and currently the director of the Hudson Institute's China Center, pointed out: "It is indeed very difficult to deal with these (cross-strait) concepts; however, many misunderstandings and misstatements occur because these concepts themselves are conceptual traps set by China. You cannot explain something that is inherently unexplainable."
Yu believes that the US should more firmly express its commitment to defending Taiwan. He said that whether it's the "One China policy" or Beijing's asserted "One China principle," they are "concepts entirely constructed by China."
Yu also mentioned: "Senior Chinese officials have never truly believed there is any ambiguity in the US's resolve to defend Taiwan."
He pointed out that, on the contrary, the US has long formulated corresponding plans to defend Taiwan based on the degree of threat from China, evidenced by Washington's several deployments of military forces to the Taiwan Strait during periods of tension over the years.
Nevertheless, Kirby stated: "Anyone who has ever spoken from the podium at the State Department, the Pentagon, or the White House knows that when it comes to the Taiwan issue, one must consult notes and not improvise freely."
Kirby revealed that if any significant gaffe occurs, it will first provoke protests from US policy officials, who will unequivocally express their displeasure and "strongly demand an immediate corrective statement." (Translation: Hung Pei-ying) 1150513
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship you make is the strength to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency "First-hand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.