Taiwanese President William Lai Ching-te said Sunday that Taiwan would not do anything to trigger conflict with China but vowed the island would never allow itself to be traded away, or give up sovereignty. File Photo by Ritchie B. Tongo/EPA-EPA
May 18 (UPI) -- Taiwanese President William Lai Ching-te said Taiwan would not do anything to trigger confrontation with China but vowed the island would never allow itself to be traded away or give up sovereignty.
In an online post Sunday, Lai said that "as a responsible party in the region and across the Taiwan Strait, Taiwan will not provoke or escalate conflict," but neither would it yield to pressure to relinquish its "national sovereignty and dignity, or its democratic and free way of life."
Lai's statement came after Beijing warned U.S. President Donald Trump to be "extra cautious" over Taiwan, which Beijing regards as a breakaway province, saying it could result in clashes and potential conflict that could place the entire Sino-U.S. relationship "in great jeopardy."
Speaking aboard Air Force One on his way back to Washington from his summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Trump said he had "made no commitment" either way on the Taiwan question or an $11 billion deal to sell arms to the island that was sent to Congress for approval in December.
