Donald Trump has alarmed Taiwan and its supporters in Washington by appearing to side with China over its own independence.
Donald Trump has alarmed Taiwan and its supporters in Washington by appearing to side with China over its own independence.
Wrapping up his two-day summit in Beijing, Trump was asked by reporters whether he would support Taiwan declaring independence from China.
"On Taiwan, (Xi) does not want to see a fight for independence because that would be a very strong confrontation, and I heard it out," Trump said.
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"I didn't make a comment."
While his predecessor Joe Biden had said the US would provide military support to Taiwan if China invaded, Trump demurred.
"I don't want to say," he told reporters.
"I think the last thing we need is a war.
"It's 9500 miles (15,000km) away. I think that's the last thing we need. We're doing very well."
When asked if Trump would allow an arms deal selling weapons to Taiwan, the president was non-committal.
The nearly $A20 billion deal has bipartisan support in Washington but is opposed by China.
A statement by the government in Taiwan reiterated their independence.
"It is widely known that China's military threat is the only real insecurity in the region," the statement read.
"Our most important and only task is to dedicate ourselves to maintaining the status quo and our determination to defend ourselves, safeguarding the freedom and democracy of our 23 million people, and ensuring that the security and stability of the Taiwan Strait are not threatened or undermined."
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Trump's statements on Taiwan have been strongly criticised by politicians in Washington.
"By raising doubts about our commitment to defending Taiwan (our close ally which is responsible for many of the powerful chips that power our technology), Trump is massively raising the risks that China will attack Taiwan," Democratic Representative Dave Min said.
"Teddy Roosevelt once defined the linchpin of strong foreign policy: speak softly and carry a big stick. Trump is doing the exact opposite of that and making the world much more dangerous."
And Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called Trump's China trip a "complete and total embarrassment".
"We know Trump's incompetent in America. He's equally so abroad," Schumer said.
"All he's coming home with is being chastised by Xi about Taiwan."
While not criticising Trump directly, Republican congressmen also called for supporting Taiwan.
"We have to support Taiwan, just like we have to support Ukraine," Rep Brian Fitzpatrick said.
"These are the fortresses of democracy, and they're on the front lines, and we have to protect and defend them."
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Taiwan and China have a long and acrimonious history dating back decades.
When Nationalist Chinese forces lost the civil war in 1949, the government relocated to Taiwan.
From there they have governed what they describe as the Republic of China, what they consider to be a government-in-exile.
The Beijing government meanwhile considers there to be only one China, and that Taiwan is a part of China.
While they have effectively governed as separate countries for decades, Taiwan formally declaring independence from China would be seen as a provocative move.
China has long been suspected of seeking a military invasion and takeover of the island.
Taiwan is Australia's sixth largest trading partner and a major supplier of petrol, computers, phones and other electronics.
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