Taipei: Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te said Wednesday that “foreign forces” cannot decide the future of the democratic island, which relies heavily on US security backing to deter a potential Chinese attack. Lai’s remarks came days after US President Donald Trump suggested arms sales to Taiwan could be used as a bargaining chip with China, which claims the island is part of its territory and has threatened to seize it by force.

TAIPEI: The expression “Taiwan independence” means the island neither belongs to nor is subordinate to Beijing and that only the Taiwanese people can decide their future,…

Trump raised doubts about arms sales to Taiwan and whether the U.S. would defend the island, rattling a sensitive relationship amid threats from Beijing.