Taiwan PM Rejects Beijing’s Sovereignty Claims After Xi’s Remarks to Trump

Taiwan’s Prime Minister Cho Jung-tai has reiterated that the island is a «fully sovereign and independent country,» firmly rejecting Chinese President Xi Jinping’s assertion that Taiwan’s «return» to China is part of the post-war international order.

Cho’s comments came after Xi raised the issue during a phone call with former U.S. President Donald Trump, their first direct conversation since a trade truce earlier this year. The exchange took place against a backdrop of rising tensions in East Asia, including a diplomatic clash between China and Japan over Tokyo’s warning that it could respond militarily to any Chinese attack on Taiwan.

Beijing has reacted sharply to Japan’s stance, imposing bans on Japanese seafood, halting film releases, and issuing travel warnings. The dispute adds to already strained cross-strait relations, which include frequent Chinese military activities near Taiwan. Taipei recently reported a Chinese balloon crossing the strait, calling it part of an intimidation campaign — a claim China denies.

Cho said Japan, the U.S. and other partners remain crucial to maintaining stability, and emphasized that only Taiwan’s people can decide the island’s future.