US President Donald Trump says he is not concerned by China’s live-fire drills near Taiwan, citing his strong relationship with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
PALM BEACH: US President Donald Trump said he was not concerned about China’s live-fire military drills around Taiwan.
When asked about the exercises by reporters on Monday, Trump stated, “I have a great relationship with President Xi. And he hasn’t told me anything about it. I certainly have seen it.”
He expressed doubt that Chinese leader Xi Jinping would order an invasion of the self-governing island.
“I don’t believe he’s going to be doing it,” Trump said in apparent reference to an invasion.
Asked directly if the drills worried him, the US president replied, “No, nothing worries me.”
Trump downplayed the significance of the military activity, noting its historical context.
“They’ve been doing naval exercises for 20 years in that area. Now people take it a little bit differently,” he said.
China, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory, launched the drills simulating a blockade of the island’s key ports.
This show of force follows the recent approval of a major new US arms package for Taiwan by the Trump administration.
The United States has a long-standing commitment to ensuring Taiwan’s self-defence capabilities.
US policy has remained deliberately ambiguous on whether American forces would directly intervene in the event of a Chinese invasion.
