U.S. President Donald Trump has called on Taiwan to refrain from attempts to achieve formal independence.
According to Oxu.Az, he stated this in an interview with Fox News. The U.S. leader said he does not want Taipei to rely on Washington's support in this matter.
"We are not looking for war. If everything stays as it is, I think that will satisfy China. But we do not want someone to say, 'Because the United States supports us, let's declare independence,'" Donald Trump noted.
Meanwhile, the White House chief refused to confirm whether he would sign a $14 billion military aid package for Taiwan. The document was initially approved by U.S. lawmakers last year but has not yet officially taken effect.
According to Reuters, Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it took note of Trump's comments regarding the island. The ministry emphasized that U.S. arms sales are part of Washington's security commitment and are directly reflected in the Taiwan Relations Act.
It should be noted that Donald Trump's two-day visit to Beijing, where he held talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, ended today. After the visit, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared that Washington's position on Taiwan remains unchanged.
