• President Trump claimed Xi Jinping assured him China would not invade Taiwan while he remains in office.
• The statement comes ahead of Trump’s Alaska summit with Vladimir Putin on Moscow’s war in Ukraine.
• Trump’s remarks underscore U.S. tensions over Taiwan, strategic ambiguity, and future security commitments.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (TDR) — In remarks that ripple across the Indo-Pacific, President Donald Trump declared Friday that Chinese leader Xi Jinping privately assured him Beijing would not move militarily against Taiwan while Trump remains in the White House. The assertion, made during an interview on Fox News’ Special Report aboard Air Force One, highlights the stakes as Trump heads into a high-profile Alaska summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin over Ukraine.

Xi’s Private Assurance

“I don’t believe there’s any way it’s going to happen as long as I’m here,” Trump said, recounting his conversations with Xi. According to the U.S. president, Xi told him: “I will never do it as long as you’re president.” Trump added: “Well, I appreciate that.”

Yet Xi reportedly tempered his assurance with an implicit reminder of China’s long game. “I am very patient, and China is very patient,” Xi allegedly said. Trump replied, “That’s up to you, but it better not happen now.”

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The exchange underscores how strategic ambiguity remains at the center of U.S.-China relations. Trump’s refusal to state outright whether his administration would intervene militarily contrasts sharply with Joe Biden, who repeatedly hinted Washington would defend Taiwan if attacked.

Strategic Ambiguity Under Strain

Since 1979, when Washington shifted recognition from Taipei to Beijing, the U.S. has relied on a policy of dual deterrence — discouraging Beijing from using force while warning Taipei not to declare independence. By law, the U.S. must supply Taiwan with defensive arms. The formula has provided breathing space for decades, but China’s rising assertiveness, coupled with Xi’s rhetoric, has placed the doctrine under renewed stress.

During their first confirmed call of Trump’s second term in June, Beijing’s readout noted Xi urged Washington to act “prudently” on Taiwan, warning against separatist provocations that could drag both powers into confrontation.

Trump, meanwhile, reportedly pressed Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te to cancel upcoming U.S. transit stops — a sharp departure from the Biden administration’s decision to permit similar visits by former President Tsai Ing-wen in 2023. The move unsettled Taipei, where analysts fear U.S. commitments could shift under Trump’s transactional approach.

Regional Security Calculus

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Behind Trump’s rhetoric lies an effort to push allies like Japan to clarify their role in the event of a Taiwan crisis. U.S. officials are believed to be coordinating with partners to prepare for potential conflict scenarios, even as Trump avoids spelling out his red lines.

For Taiwan, which functions as a de facto independent state with its own government, military, and currency, Trump’s words carry both reassurance and uncertainty. Taipei maintains unofficial relations with Washington, but its fate is tied to shifting U.S. calculations.

Beyond Taiwan: The Russia Factor

Trump’s Xi comments came just hours before his Alaska summit with Putin, where Ukraine was the focus. In a separate Fox News interview with Hannity, Trump suggested Kyiv must strike a deal to end the war, remarking bluntly: “Russia is a very big power, and they’re not.” The statement raised alarms among European allies worried about U.S. staying power.

The Larger Question

Trump’s claim that Xi assured him of restraint may calm fears temporarily. But Xi’s reminder of China’s patience suggests the question is not if Beijing will act on Taiwan, but when. Whether Trump’s personal rapport with Xi can forestall confrontation beyond his presidency remains the looming uncertainty.

Is Trump’s personal diplomacy truly stabilizing U.S.-China relations — or merely buying time before a greater crisis erupts?

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