Shen Yu-chung on Cross-Strait Relations After Trump-Xi Meeting: Taiwan Strives to Maintain Status Quo
MAC Deputy Minister Shen Yu-chung stated that after the Trump-Xi meeting, U.S. policy toward Taiwan remains unchanged, and Taiwan will strive to maintain the status quo, continuing to cooperate with allies like the United States to ensure peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.
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- 📰 Published: May 18, 2026 at 17:46
- 🔍 Collected: May 18, 2026 at 18:01 (15 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 18, 2026 at 20:58 (2h 56m after Collected)
(CNA, Taipei, May 18) Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Deputy Minister Shen Yu-chung stated today that U.S. policy towards Taiwan has not changed, and the U.S. has made no promises to the Chinese side regarding arms sales to Taiwan. Taiwan will commit to maintaining the status quo and continue to work closely with friendly allied nations, including the United States, to jointly safeguard peace, stability, and prosperity in the Taiwan Strait and the region.
Tunghai University's Center for China and Regional Development Studies held a symposium today on "Prospects for Cross-Strait Relations After the 'Trump-Xi Meeting'," where Shen attended and made the above remarks regarding the recent meeting and its impact on cross-strait relations.
Shen said that Taiwan has noted the various issues concerning Taiwan discussed at the 'Trump-Xi meeting.' The objective situation is that the Chinese side expressed its position, while the U.S. side has repeatedly and clearly stated, both before and after the meeting, that its policy toward Taiwan remains consistent and unchanged. In short, each side stated its own case.
Regarding the issue of arms sales, which is of great concern to all, Shen said that U.S. President Trump has explicitly stated that he has never made any promises to the Chinese side. Furthermore, U.S. House Speaker Johnson and several bipartisan members of Congress have spoken out in support of Taiwan, emphasizing that U.S. interests lie in maintaining Taiwan's autonomy and security. These actions by the U.S. show that its policy toward Taiwan and its emphasis on peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait have not wavered in the slightest.
Shen stressed that regarding the "Taiwan independence" issue, the government's policy has been consistently unchanged, which, in simple terms, is to maintain the status quo. The government has always been committed to defending the survival and development of the Republic of China and maintaining Taiwan's free and democratic way of life. The Republic of China has been established for 115 years and is not subordinate to the People's Republic of China. Cross-strait relations are just that—cross-strait relations.
Shen pointed out that the status quo of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is a common interest for both Taiwan and the U.S. Geopolitically, the CCP's continuous military expansion and constant creation of gray-zone conflicts and military pressure in the East China Sea, Taiwan Strait, and South China Sea are a threat to democratic countries and a source of conflict. Taiwan, the U.S., the first island chain, and indeed all democratic nations worldwide, will continue to maintain smooth communication, deepen cooperation, and jointly safeguard peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.
Shen reiterated that the CCP's "One China" narrative, which leaves no room for the existence of the Republic of China, is what changes the status quo. The CCP's "one country, two systems" and "One China" narratives are unacceptable to mainstream public opinion in Taiwan, and its attempts to change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait by force are not accepted by the international community.
Shen argued that peace, democracy, and national sovereignty are all secured by enhancing self-strength and strengthening international cooperation. Anyone who echoes the CCP's "One China" narrative, or even weakens national defense, will cause the international community to question Taiwan's determination for self-defense. Such peace hands over sovereignty and cross-strait initiative to the CCP. This kind of peace, which sacrifices sovereignty and democracy, has no guarantee, as Tibet and Hong Kong have already served as warnings.
Shen stated that the government will continue to adhere to the "Four Commitments" as its principle, calling on the CCP to face the objective fact that the Republic of China has always existed, abandon the practice of changing the status quo by force, and engage in dialogue with Taiwan's democratically elected government. This is what the international community would like to see and is the way to bring stability to both sides of the strait.
Finally, Shen said that the government will continue to deepen communication and cooperation with democratic allies such as the U.S. and Japan, and also called on the public to support the strengthening of national defense and work with the government to strive for the status quo of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, the survival and development of the Republic of China, and a free and democratic way of life.
Tunghai University's Center for China and Regional Development Studies held a symposium today on "Prospects for Cross-Strait Relations After the 'Trump-Xi Meeting'," where Shen attended and made the above remarks regarding the recent meeting and its impact on cross-strait relations.
Shen said that Taiwan has noted the various issues concerning Taiwan discussed at the 'Trump-Xi meeting.' The objective situation is that the Chinese side expressed its position, while the U.S. side has repeatedly and clearly stated, both before and after the meeting, that its policy toward Taiwan remains consistent and unchanged. In short, each side stated its own case.
Regarding the issue of arms sales, which is of great concern to all, Shen said that U.S. President Trump has explicitly stated that he has never made any promises to the Chinese side. Furthermore, U.S. House Speaker Johnson and several bipartisan members of Congress have spoken out in support of Taiwan, emphasizing that U.S. interests lie in maintaining Taiwan's autonomy and security. These actions by the U.S. show that its policy toward Taiwan and its emphasis on peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait have not wavered in the slightest.
Shen stressed that regarding the "Taiwan independence" issue, the government's policy has been consistently unchanged, which, in simple terms, is to maintain the status quo. The government has always been committed to defending the survival and development of the Republic of China and maintaining Taiwan's free and democratic way of life. The Republic of China has been established for 115 years and is not subordinate to the People's Republic of China. Cross-strait relations are just that—cross-strait relations.
Shen pointed out that the status quo of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is a common interest for both Taiwan and the U.S. Geopolitically, the CCP's continuous military expansion and constant creation of gray-zone conflicts and military pressure in the East China Sea, Taiwan Strait, and South China Sea are a threat to democratic countries and a source of conflict. Taiwan, the U.S., the first island chain, and indeed all democratic nations worldwide, will continue to maintain smooth communication, deepen cooperation, and jointly safeguard peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.
Shen reiterated that the CCP's "One China" narrative, which leaves no room for the existence of the Republic of China, is what changes the status quo. The CCP's "one country, two systems" and "One China" narratives are unacceptable to mainstream public opinion in Taiwan, and its attempts to change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait by force are not accepted by the international community.
Shen argued that peace, democracy, and national sovereignty are all secured by enhancing self-strength and strengthening international cooperation. Anyone who echoes the CCP's "One China" narrative, or even weakens national defense, will cause the international community to question Taiwan's determination for self-defense. Such peace hands over sovereignty and cross-strait initiative to the CCP. This kind of peace, which sacrifices sovereignty and democracy, has no guarantee, as Tibet and Hong Kong have already served as warnings.
Shen stated that the government will continue to adhere to the "Four Commitments" as its principle, calling on the CCP to face the objective fact that the Republic of China has always existed, abandon the practice of changing the status quo by force, and engage in dialogue with Taiwan's democratically elected government. This is what the international community would like to see and is the way to bring stability to both sides of the strait.
Finally, Shen said that the government will continue to deepen communication and cooperation with democratic allies such as the U.S. and Japan, and also called on the public to support the strengthening of national defense and work with the government to strive for the status quo of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, the survival and development of the Republic of China, and a free and democratic way of life.