Trump Seemingly Upends America’s Decades-Long Taiwan Stance In One Interview

President Donald Trump said he is not looking to “travel 9,500 miles to fight a war” over Taiwan, suggesting during a trip to China there are limits to U.S. support for the long-contested Asian island.

Trump made the comments during a Friday interview with Bret Baier, saying both China and Taiwan should “cool down” the tensions that have risen over the island. The remarks come as Beijing has continued to signal its ambitions for Taiwan, claiming the self-governing democratic island power is part of Communist China’s territory.

WATCH:

Washington has steadily avoided recognizing Taiwan as an independent nation while maintaining unofficial ties with Taipei and providing defense support to the island, a balance which Trump appeared to dismiss during the interview. 

When Baier asked whether U.S. policy toward Taiwan had changed, Trump said it had not, but warned against the island asserting its independence from Communist China while expecting the backing of the U.S. military.  

“No, nothing changed,” Trump said. “I will say this: I’m not looking to have somebody go independent and, you know, we’re supposed to travel 9,500 miles to fight a war. I’m not looking for that.” 

Trump’s argument comes after the U.S. took military action against the Islamic Republic of Iran, though a ceasefire is currently in place. Taiwan sits roughly 7,900 miles from the District of Columbia, while Tehran is about 6,300 miles away.

Trump also declined to commit to approving billions of dollars in weapons for Taiwan when Baier asked whether the arms package was moving forward. 

“Well, I haven’t approved it yet,” Trump said. “We’re gonna see what happens.” 

When Baier pressed Trump on what his “hinge point” would be, Trump declined to say. 

“I may do it. I may not do it,” Trump said. “But we’re not looking to have wars, and if you kept it the way it is, I think China is going to be okay with that.” 

The White House did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comments.

The Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement Saturday in response to Trump’s comments, noting the U.S. “has repeatedly stressed that its long-standing policy toward Taiwan remains unchanged,” a position echoed by Trump.

“Our position is clear: Taiwan will continue to contribute to regional peace and stability. We are determined to maintain the status quo across the Taiwan Strait,” the statement reads in part. “It is self-evident that the ROC (Taiwan) is a sovereign democratic country. Beijing has no right to claim jurisdiction over Taiwan. The government of Taiwan will continue to deepen cooperation with the United States, maintain peace through strength, and ensure that the security and stability of the Taiwan Strait are not threatened or undermined. This serves the shared interests of Taiwan, the United States, and democracies around the world.

“China’s military threat remains the primary source of regional instability, driving countries in the first island chain to strengthen their defense capabilities in coordination with the United States,” it continues. “We are grateful for President Trump’s continued support for cross-strait security since his first term, including announcements of weapons sales that have reached record highs. Taiwan-US cooperation has always been demonstrated through concrete actions and we look forward to the United States continuing to fulfill its commitments under the Taiwan Relations Act. Taiwan will further work with the United States and other democratic partners worldwide to address the risks that authoritarian regimes pose to geopolitical security and global order and stability.”