Taiwan Will Not Provoke Conflict, But Won’t Give Up Sovereignty: Lai

Taipei: Lai Ching-te has reaffirmed Taiwan’s sovereignty, saying the island will not provoke conflict but will never surrender its freedom, dignity or democratic way of life.

His remarks came after a high-stakes summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, where Taiwan emerged as a key point of discussion.

According to Chinese state media, Xi warned Trump that Taiwan remains “the most important issue” in US-China relations and mishandling it could trigger conflict. Following the summit, Trump told Fox News he was “not looking to have somebody go independent,” while stressing that Washington’s policy on Taiwan remains unchanged.

In his first direct response, Lai said there is no “Taiwan independence issue,” insisting that Taiwan is already “a sovereign and independent democratic country.” He added that Taiwan’s future must be decided by its people alone.

Lai also said Taiwan remains committed to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, but would not bow to pressure or accept forced political arrangements from Beijing.

The statement comes amid rising regional tensions, expanded Chinese military activity near Taiwan, and continued US arms support for the island.