TAIPEI (TVBS News) — U.S. President Donald Trump declared that Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) will not attack Taiwan during his presidency. Trump made the assertion during a Thursday (Jan. 8) interview with The New York Times (Friday morning in Taipei), addressing concerns about potential military action by China against Taiwan. The president said he communicated to Xi that any military action would displease him and expressed confidence that Xi would refrain from using force while he remains in office.
Trump dismissed the notion that China or Russia might emulate U.S. actions in Venezuela, emphasizing the distinct circumstances between the situations. He highlighted that Venezuela posed a real threat to the U.S., a situation not mirrored by Taiwan concerning China. Trump criticized Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro's regime for sending gang members into the U.S. He noted that China does not face a similar issue with Taiwan.
Trump suggested that Xi might hesitate to use force against Taiwan while he remains in office, but might consider such actions under a different president. The U.S. president stressed that he had communicated directly to Xi that any military action against Taiwan would displease him. Trump expressed hope that Xi would refrain from military measures against Taiwan during his administration. ◼