Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te said on Wednesday that if he had the opportunity to speak with the US president Donald TrumpHe reportedly asserted that China is "undermining peace" and increasing tensions in the Asian region. He also insisted that no one had the right to "annex" Taiwan.
These statements come amid heightened tensions between Taipei and Beijing. China considers Taiwan an integral part of its territory and regularly accuses Lai Ching-te of advocating separatist positions. Chinese authorities recently claimed that he had "betrayed Taiwan" by increasingly vocal in his criticism of Beijing.
No Taiwanese and American presidents have spoken directly since 1979, the year Washington transferred its diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing. However, Donald Trump has suggested in recent days that a call with the Taiwanese leader remains a possibility.
Relations between Taiwan and the United States are currently going through a delicate period. Although Washington remains the island's main military and political supporter, Donald Trump has recently adopted a more cautious tone following a meeting with the Chinese president. Xi Jinping.
The US president indicated that he had not yet made a decision regarding new arms sales to Taiwan. He also described the island as "a good bargaining chip," while stating that he did not want to encourage a formal declaration of independence.
Faced with increasing pressure from Beijing and uncertainty about US support, Lai Ching-te is seeking to maintain open channels of communication with Washington while asserting Taiwan's sovereignty. The situation continues to be closely monitored by regional powers, which fear a military escalation in the Taiwan Strait.
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