Trump: Xi Pledged No Taiwan Invasion During My Presidency

US President Donald Trump said on Friday that Chinese President Xi Jinping assured him China would not invade Taiwan while Trump is in office.

Speaking to Fox News ahead of talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin over Moscow’s war in Ukraine, Trump said:

“I don’t believe there’s any way it’s going to happen as long as I’m here. President Xi told me, ‘I will never do it as long as you’re president.’ I said, ‘Well, I appreciate that.’ But he also said, ‘I am very patient, and China is very patient.’”

The Chinese Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Trump and Xi last spoke in June in their first confirmed call of Trump’s second presidential term. Trump had previously mentioned another call in April but did not provide details.

Beijing considers Taiwan part of its territory and has vowed to achieve “reunification,” by force if necessary. The island rejects China’s sovereignty claims. While the US is Taiwan’s main arms supplier and political backer, it maintains no formal diplomatic ties with Taipei, in line with its “One China” policy.