Lai says Taiwan-US cooperation 'won't change' after Xi's warning
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te speaks during a press conference in Taipei, Taiwan, Feb. 3. EPA-Yonhap
TAIPEI — Taiwan's president said Thursday the island's ties with the United States "will not change", after Chinese leader Xi Jinping warned Washington over arms sales to Taipei during a call with U.S. President Donald Trump.
"Taiwan-U.S. relations are rock-solid, and all cooperation programmes will continue and will not change," Lai Ching-te told reporters after visiting a textile factory in central Taiwan.
Lai said Washington's "commitments (to Taipei) remain unchanged" and that "there are excellent channels of communication" between the two sides, without giving further details.
His comments came after Xi on Wednesday called for "mutual respect" in strengthening relations with Washington, while issuing a warning about Taiwan,Beijing's state media reported.
"The Taiwan question is the most important issue in China-US relations... the U.S. must handle arms sales to Taiwan with caution," Xi said, according to state broadcaster CCTV.
Trump, in a post on his Truth Social platform, described the conversation as "excellent" and said relations between Washington and Beijing were "extremely good".
"The relationship with China, and my personal relationship with President Xi, is an extremely good one, and we both realize how important it is to keep it that way," Trump said.
He said the two leaders discussed trade, Taiwan, the Russian war against Ukraine, Iran and his planned trip to China, which he said "I very much look forward to".
China's Communist Party has never ruled democratic Taiwan, but Beijing claims the island is part of its territory and has not ruled out the use of force to annex it.
Washington does not formally recognize Taiwan, but is the island territory's main military backer -- although the tone of that support has softened slightly under Trump.
The United States approved $11 billion worth of arms to Taiwan in December, Taipei said.
China responded shortly afterwards with major live-fire drills simulating a blockade around Taiwan's key ports.
Commenting on the Trump-Xi call, Taiwan's foreign ministry said the island supported efforts to "reduce the risks posed by any unilateral use of force or threats".