Taiwan Cannot Be Used as Bargaining Chip in US-China Deal, Says President

May 18, 2026 | 09:10 am

President of Taiwan Lai Ching-te. president.gov.tw

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te said Taiwan will not surrender its democracy or sovereignty under pressure from China, while also insisting that the island cannot be used as a bargaining chip in negotiations between the United States (US) and Beijing.Al Jazeera reported that Lai stated on Sunday that Taiwan would neither provoke conflict nor abandon its democratic system and national dignity amid rising tensions across the Taiwan Strait.“Taiwan will not provoke or escalate conflict, but it will also not relinquish its national sovereignty and dignity, or its democratic and free way of life, under pressure,” Lai wrote on social media.The statement came days after US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed Taiwan during their summit in Beijing.According to Chinese state media, Xi described the Taiwan issue as the “most important issue in China-US relations” and warned that mishandling it could push the two countries toward conflict.Following the summit, Trump told Fox News that he was not “looking to have somebody go independent,” referring to Taiwan. He also said he had not yet decided whether to approve a proposed US$14 billion arms package for Taipei, despite the package already receiving approval from the US Congress.Shortly afterward, Trump described the proposed arms sale as a “very good negotiating tool,” raising concerns in Taiwan about the extent of Washington’s long-term military commitment to the island.Bloomberg noted that Lai responded by stressing that Taiwan could not be sacrificed in negotiations between major powers.“Taiwan will never be sacrificed or traded,” Lai said in a statement posted on his official Facebook account.Lai also rejected suggestions that Taiwan is actively pursuing formal independence, saying the island is already a sovereign democratic state.“There is no question of independence,” he said.The Taiwanese president argued that Taiwan’s strategic importance in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly in artificial intelligence and semiconductor supply chains, makes stability in the Taiwan Strait a shared interest among democratic countries.Despite concerns over Trump’s remarks, Lai said the United States continues to support Taiwan’s security. He noted that Trump and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had repeatedly reaffirmed that Washington’s policy toward Taiwan remains unchanged.Lai emphasized that security cooperation and arms sales from the United States remain essential for maintaining regional stability.“This is not only a US security commitment to Taiwan, but also the most important deterrent force against undermining regional peace and stability,” he said.Meanwhile, US House Speaker Mike Johnson described Lai’s position as “responsible” during an interview with Fox News. Johnson added that Taiwan’s status as an “independent nation” aligns with the interests of “all freedom-loving people around the world.”China considers Taiwan part of its territory and has repeatedly vowed to pursue reunification, including by force if necessary. The issue has remained one of the most sensitive flashpoints in relations between Beijing and Washington since the end of the Chinese civil war in 1949.Read: Taiwan Urges Trump to Advance Arms Deal After China SummitClick here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News