Taiwan denounces Xi's comments to Trump as 'distortion of facts'
China claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, a position President Lai Ching-te and his administration reject.
Taiwan's government dismissed Chinese President Xi Jinping's remarks about the island's future to US President Donald Trump as a distortion of the facts, insisting only the Taiwanese people can determine their destiny. China asserts Taiwan as its territory, an assertion President Lai Ching-te and his administration vehemently reject.
During a meeting with Trump in Washington on Thursday, Xi reiterated China's stance on safeguarding national reunification and territorial integrity, urging the US to align with the correct position opposing Taiwan independence. According to Taiwan's foreign ministry, China's approach is characterized by the persistent distortion of facts and unilateral declaration of its claims.
The ministry emphasized Taiwan's sovereignty belongs to all Taiwanese people and the Chinese Communist Party has no right to represent the Taiwanese populace; the island's future can only be decided democratically by the island's inhabitants. Despite the absence of formal diplomatic ties, the US remains Taiwan's primary international ally and weapons provider.
Following a meeting with Xi in Beijing, Trump announced in May that he was pausing a planned arms sale to Taiwan, deeming it a valuable bargaining tool. Taiwan's foreign ministry labeled China the true disruptor of regional peace and stability, citing the country's military provocations in and around the island, as well as the East and South China Seas.
Taiwan vowed to collaborate closely with the United States and other like-minded partners to collectively ensure peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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