Trump says he 'made no commitment' to Xi on Taiwan

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the press aboard Air Force One enroute to the U.S., Friday, following his official visit with President Xi Jinping in China. Reuters-Yonhap

ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE — U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday he discussed the flashpoint issue of Taiwan with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, but made no commitments.

"President Xi and I talked a lot about Taiwan," Trump told reporters onboard Air Force One, on his way back to Washington following a high-stakes summit in Beijing.

"He does not want to see a fight for independence," he added. "I didn't make a comment on it, I heard him out."

Trump added: "On Taiwan he feels very strongly, I made no commitment either way."

Ahead of the summit, Trump had said he would speak to Xi about U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, a departure from Washington's previous insistence that it would not consult Beijing on the matter.

Speaking to reporters en route to Washington, Friday, Trump said on the issue of arms sales: "I'll make a determination over the next fairly short period of time."

The United States recognizes only Beijing, but under U.S. law is required to provide weapons to the self-ruled democracy for its defense.

China has sworn to take the island and has not ruled out using force, ramping up military pressure in recent years.