US3 min(s) read
Published 11:29 14 May 2026 GMT
Moments after Donald Trump finished his tour of the Temple of Heaven, the president refused to answer one of the most pressing questions he would face following his trip to China.
When asked by reporters if he spoke to Chinese President Xi Jinping about the most contentious issue in the superpowers’ relationship, Taiwan, he simply ignored the question and walked away.
One reporter asked, "How were your talks, sir?", but Trump simply responded, "Great - a great place. Incredible. China is beautiful."
Then another member of the press called out, "Did you talk about Taiwan, Mr President?" but it was not met with a response.
The US president was then asked the same question twice more, but continued to ignore it.
Once he was finished posing for photographs with Jinping, he turned and walked away, leaving his security personnel to escort the press away.
In China, Taiwan is not just a policy issue; it is a matter of national identity and sovereignty.
The ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) views the island as a breakaway province that must eventually be 'reunified' with the mainland.
President Xi Jinping has repeatedly stated that this issue is a 'core interest' that cannot be compromised.
For the US, Taiwan is a 'strategic anchor' in the Western Pacific, and if it were to 'abandon' Taiwan, its allies (like Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines) might question whether the US would defend them, potentially collapsing the American-led security architecture in Asia.
Also, symbolically, for the US, supporting Taiwan is a symbolic commitment to defending democratic values against authoritarian expansion and its rival superpower.
In the past, Jinping had warned Trump that his handling of the self-governed island could lead to 'conflicts' that might put 'the entire relationship in great jeopardy.'
In a statement posted on X by Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning, the Chinese president told Trump, "The Taiwan question is the most important issue in China-U.S. relations.
"If it is handled properly, the bilateral relationship will enjoy overall stability. Otherwise, the two countries will have clashes and even conflicts, putting the entire relationship in great jeopardy.”
This state visit came at an interesting time, as China is reportedly deeply unhappy about the US’s recent plans to sell weapons to Taiwan, as the Trump administration has approved an $11 billion weapons package.
Also, there are speculations that Trump could be reining in his support for the island democracy as he has demonstrated an increasing disinterest in Taiwan.
