Taiwan welcomes Trump-Xi call: A step towards regional stability
Taiwan has officially welcomed the recent phone call between US President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, considering this diplomatic step a cornerstone for enhancing stability in the Indo-Pacific region. This welcome comes at a time of escalating tensions in the region, as Beijing intensifies its military activities around the island, which it considers an integral part of its territory.
Taiwan's position: Cautious optimism and support for dialogue
In an official comment on the event, Taiwan's Vice Foreign Minister Chen Ming-chi told AFP that his country was not concerned about the rapprochement or direct communication between Washington and Beijing. Chen said, "We are not worried about this phone call; on the contrary, we believe it will effectively contribute to stabilizing the security and political situation, especially as China continues to escalate tensions in the Taiwan Strait and throughout the region." He added that any dialogue between the major powers is in the interest of de-escalation and avoiding miscalculations.
Contact details: Mutual respect and red lines
According to the official Xinhua News Agency, Chinese President Xi Jinping, during the call, called for adherence to the principle of "mutual respect" to ensure healthy relations with the United States, stressing the need for extreme caution in dealing with the Taiwan issue, which Beijing always describes as the first "red line" in its bilateral relations with Washington.
For his part, US President Donald Trump described the call via his Truth Social platform as "excellent," noting that the US relationship with China, and his personal relationship with President Xi, is "excellent," reflecting an American desire to maintain open channels of communication despite strategic competition.
US-Taiwan relations: Rock solid
In a related development, Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te sought to reassure the Taiwanese public and allies, emphasizing that relations between Taipei and Washington remain "rock solid." Lai explained that joint cooperation programs, both military and economic, will continue uninterrupted, stressing that the partnership with the United States is the cornerstone of the democratic island's security.
Background of the conflict and strategic importance
These developments are particularly significant given the historical and geographical context. China considers Taiwan a breakaway province that must be reunified, by force if necessary, while the United States, under the Taiwan Relations Act, is committed to providing the island with the means to defend itself. The Taiwan Strait is a vital waterway for global trade, through which a significant percentage of international shipping containers pass. Furthermore, Taiwan is the world's largest producer of advanced semiconductors, making its stability a matter of global national security and economic importance, not merely a regional issue.
Observers believe that resuming direct communication between the leaders of the world's two largest economies could help put in place "safety barriers" to prevent fierce competition from turning into open conflict, something Taiwan is watching closely, hoping that it will curb China's growing military moves in its vicinity.
