• Trump asserts Xi Jinping understands the consequences of any military action on Taiwan.
• During a recent meeting, Trump claims the issue of Taiwan was not discussed.
• Trump refuses to disclose his plans regarding U.S. military support for Taiwan.
• Historic context shows growing tensions surrounding Taiwan in U.S.-China relations.
• The interview highlights Trump's approach to maintaining strategic ambiguity on Taiwan.

In a recent interview with CBS's "60 Minutes," President Trump stated that Chinese President Xi Jinping has assured him that Beijing will not take military action against Taiwan during his presidency. Trump emphasized that this critical issue "never even came up as a subject" during their meeting in South Korea, suggesting Xi and his officials "know the consequences" of any aggressive moves toward Taiwan, according to CBS News and South China Morning Post.

Trump clarified that while he won't disclose the specific response he would give if China were to attack Taiwan, he stated, "You'll find out if it happens, and he understands the answer to that." This aligns with Trump's strategic ambiguity on the matter, as the U.S. has historically refrained from explicitly committing to military action, according to Los Angeles Times and Al Jazeera.

Despite rising tensions in the Taiwan Strait due to China's military drills and incursions into Taiwan's airspace, Trump maintained that Xi was aware of the repercussions if his government decided to take action against Taiwan. This assertion leads to speculation about the current state of U.S. foreign policy toward Taiwan amid escalating pressures from China, according to Anadolu Agency and India Times.

As the Taiwan Relations Act dictates, the U.S. opposes any unilateral efforts by Beijing to change the status of Taiwan, which it considers a core interest. The contrasting responses from both Trump and Chinese officials over Taiwan during their latest discussions symbolize the complexities inherent in U.S.-China relations, which have typically included explicit warnings regarding Taiwan's sovereignty, according to South China Morning Post and India Times.