Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te said Sunday that US arms sales and security cooperation with the island democracy were “key elements” to regional peace.
“The United States’ continued arms sales to Taiwan and deepening of Taiwan-US security cooperation are not only necessary but also key elements in maintaining regional peace and stability,” Lai said in a statement on Facebook.
Taiwan depends heavily on US security backing to deter China from carrying out its threat to annex the island by force.
In his Facebook post, Lai insisted that Taiwan was at the “core” of global interests and “peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait will never be sacrificed or traded away”.
Lai’s comments came days after US President Donald Trump said further arms sales to Taiwan “depends on China” and was a “very good negotiating chip for us”.
A few days ealier, China’s President Xi Jinping warned US President Donald Trump that conflict could erupt between their countries if the issue of self-governed Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its own, is mishandled.
During their meeting in Beijing on Thursday, Xi told Trump that “the Taiwan issue is the most important issue in China-US relations,” adding, if mishandled, “the two countries will have clashes and even conflicts, putting the entire relationship in great jeopardy.”
Xi added the two countries should be “partners, not adversaries,” noting that “cooperation benefits both sides, while confrontation harms both.”
Trump and Xi discussed the war in the Middle East, the Ukraine conflict, and issues on the Korean Peninsula when they met in Beijing on Thursday, the Chinese government said.
As Trump met Xi in Beijing, Taiwan said the United States has expressed “clear and firm support” for the island democracy. “The US side has repeatedly reaffirmed its clear and firm support for Taiwan,” cabinet spokeswoman Michelle Lee told reporters. (AFP)
