Trump Urges Cross-Strait De-escalation; Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Taiwan-US Continue Cooperation to Counter Authoritarian Risks
Following Trump's call for cross-strait de-escalation and maintenance of the status quo, Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirmed Taiwan's commitment to regional peace and self-defense, emphasizing continued cooperation with democratic allies including the US to counter risks posed by authoritarian states.
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- 📰 Published: May 16, 2026 at 12:06
- 🔍 Collected: May 16, 2026 at 12:31 (24 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 16, 2026 at 13:57 (1h 25m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporters Lai Yu-chen, Wu Shu-wei Taipei, May 16) US President Donald Trump, in an interview after the meeting with Xi Jinping, urged maintaining the status quo across the Taiwan Strait and for both sides to work to de-escalate tensions. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Taiwan is committed to maintaining peace and stability in the region and demonstrating its determination for self-defense, and will continue to cooperate with democratic allies, including the United States, to address the risks posed by authoritarian countries.
Immediately after the Trump-Xi meeting, Trump stated in a Fox News interview aired today that he does not want to see Taiwan move towards independence, but rather maintain the status quo, and that both China and Taiwan should de-escalate tensions. Trump also said that US policy towards Taiwan has not changed.
Regarding Trump's latest remarks, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today issued a written explanation stating that since Trump took office, the US has repeatedly reiterated that its consistent policy towards Taiwan has not changed.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the Republic of China (Taiwan) is a sovereign and independent democratic country, not subordinate to the People's Republic of China, which is a clear fact. In the face of increasing threats from China, Taiwan is committed to maintaining peace and stability in the region and demonstrating its determination for self-defense, ensuring the freedom and democracy of its 23 million people, and preventing the security and stability of the Taiwan Strait from being threatened or undermined.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs pointed out that striving to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is also a common interest of Taiwan, the United States, and democratic countries worldwide.
Speaking of China, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that it is well-known that China's military threat is the only factor of insecurity in the region, and it is also the reason why various parties around the first island chain are actively strengthening their defenses in cooperation with the US.
Regarding US arms sales to Taiwan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that this is a security commitment to Taiwan explicitly stated in the "Taiwan Relations Act" of the United States, and it is also a common deterrent against regional threats. It thanked Trump for his continuous support for the security of the Taiwan Strait since his first term, and the announced amount of arms sales has reached a historical high.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also said that Taiwan and the US have always demonstrated their cooperation through action, and look forward to the US continuing to implement its commitments under the "Taiwan Relations Act." Taiwan will continue to cooperate with democratic allies worldwide, including the United States, to jointly address the risks posed by authoritarian countries to geosecurity, global order, and stability. (Editor: Zhai Si-chia) 1150516
(Central News Agency reporters Lai Yu-chen, Wu Shu-wei Taipei, May 16) US President Donald Trump, in an interview after the meeting with Xi Jinping, urged maintaining the status quo across the Taiwan Strait and for both sides to work to de-escalate tensions. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Taiwan is committed to maintaining peace and stability in the region and demonstrating its determination for self-defense, and will continue to cooperate with democratic allies, including the United States, to address the risks posed by authoritarian countries.
Immediately after the Trump-Xi meeting, Trump stated in a Fox News interview aired today that he does not want to see Taiwan move towards independence, but rather maintain the status quo, and that both China and Taiwan should de-escalate tensions. Trump also said that US policy towards Taiwan has not changed.
Regarding Trump's latest remarks, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today issued a written explanation stating that since Trump took office, the US has repeatedly reiterated that its consistent policy towards Taiwan has not changed.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the Republic of China (Taiwan) is a sovereign and independent democratic country, not subordinate to the People's Republic of China, which is a clear fact. In the face of increasing threats from China, Taiwan is committed to maintaining peace and stability in the region and demonstrating its determination for self-defense, ensuring the freedom and democracy of its 23 million people, and preventing the security and stability of the Taiwan Strait from being threatened or undermined.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs pointed out that striving to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is also a common interest of Taiwan, the United States, and democratic countries worldwide.
Speaking of China, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that it is well-known that China's military threat is the only factor of insecurity in the region, and it is also the reason why various parties around the first island chain are actively strengthening their defenses in cooperation with the US.
Regarding US arms sales to Taiwan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that this is a security commitment to Taiwan explicitly stated in the "Taiwan Relations Act" of the United States, and it is also a common deterrent against regional threats. It thanked Trump for his continuous support for the security of the Taiwan Strait since his first term, and the announced amount of arms sales has reached a historical high.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also said that Taiwan and the US have always demonstrated their cooperation through action, and look forward to the US continuing to implement its commitments under the "Taiwan Relations Act." Taiwan will continue to cooperate with democratic allies worldwide, including the United States, to jointly address the risks posed by authoritarian countries to geosecurity, global order, and stability. (Editor: Zhai Si-chia) 1150516