Donald Trump has disclosed the remarks made by Chinese President Xi Jinping during their private meeting last week.
The President of the United States recently completed a five-day diplomatic tour across Asia, where he held discussions with Xi Jinping.
Trump began his trip in Malaysia on October 26, followed by a visit to Japan where he met with Sanae Takaichi, the nation’s new leader and its first-ever female prime minister.
He then proceeded to South Korea, engaging in talks with South Korea’s presidential aide Kim Yong-beom and Chinese President Xi.
Trump’s discussions with China were notably successful, resulting in an agreement on numerous issues between the two leaders.
However, the topic of Taiwan—a self-governing island that China considers part of its territory—was not addressed last week.
Trump stated that Xi assured him China would refrain from any action towards Taiwan during Trump’s presidency. What may transpire after Trump’s term, however, remains uncertain.
In a conversation with CBS News, Trump explained: “He has openly said and his people have openly said at meetings, ‘We would never do anything while President Trump is president’ because they know the consequences.”
Regarding Xi, Trump remarked: “You’ll find out if it happens, and he understands the answer to that.”
The 1979 Taiwan Relations Act mandates the US to support Taiwan’s self-defense but does not obligate military intervention should China invade.
According to The Independent, Liu Pengyu, spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington, D.C., stated: “The Taiwan question is China’s internal affair, and it is the core of China’s core interests. How to resolve the Taiwan question is a matter for the Chinese people ourselves, and only the Chinese people can decide it.”
Following the meeting, Trump announced a reduction in tariffs that were previously imposed on China for allegedly selling chemicals used to produce fentanyl. The tariffs would decrease from 20 percent to ten percent, reducing the total combined tariff rate on China from 57 percent to 47 percent.
“I guess on the scale from zero to 10, with ten being the best, I would say the meeting was a 12. I think it was a 12,” Trump commented.
Additionally, Trump mentioned they discussed exporting more advanced computer chips to China, with Nvidia expected to hold discussions with Chinese officials.
Moreover, Xi indicated that both countries would strive to complete their agreements to ensure ‘peace of mind’ for the benefit of China, the US, and the rest of the world, as reported by state media.