By The Epoch Times | Created at 2026-09-25 21:21:50 | Updated at 2026-09-25 23:40:42
2 hours ago
(L-R) China's First Lady Peng Liyuan, Chinese leader Xi Jinping, President Donald Trump, and First Lady Melania Trump stand on the Blue Room balcony of the White House to watch an exhibition of the U.S. Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon, in Washington, on Sept. 24, 2026. Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images
Chinese leader Xi Jinping pressed U.S. President Donald Trump during their White House talks to adopt what Beijing called the “correct position” of opposing Taiwan independence, according to China’s account of the Sept. 24 meeting.
The Chinese foreign ministry said Xi urged the United States to oppose Taiwan independence and “handle the Taiwan question with caution.” Its readout did not say how Trump responded to Xi on the topic.
As of Sept. 25, White House public materials reviewed by The Epoch Times did not provide a comparably detailed account of the private discussion. The White House published material from Xi’s visit and public events, but its briefings and statements page did not contain a post-meeting readout detailing Trump’s response on Taiwan.
Beijing claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has not ruled out using force to bring the self-governed island under its control. Taiwan rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims.
Taiwan’s foreign ministry responded on Sept. 25, saying Beijing was following its longstanding practice of “distorting facts” and unilaterally advancing its own positions and claims.
The ministry said that Taiwan and China “are not subordinate to each other,” and that the Chinese Communist Party has no right to represent them. Taiwan’s future, it said, can only be decided democratically by its people.
The ministry also cited President Lai Ching-te’s repeated statements that Taiwan seeks to maintain the status quo and peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and in the region.
It accused Beijing of continuing gray-zone harassment and military threats in the East China Sea, South China Sea, Taiwan Strait, and around Taiwan.
The ministry also accused Beijing of seeking to influence other countries’ normal exchanges and cooperation with Taiwan.
It noted that during the United Nations General Assembly in New York, multiple nations reaffirmed the importance of stability across the Taiwan Strait. On Sept. 21, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his Japanese and South Korean counterparts called for the peaceful resolution of cross-strait issues, opposed unilateral changes to the status quo, and backed Taiwan’s participation in international organizations.
The following day, foreign ministers from Australia, France, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, Poland, South Korea, and the UK issued a similar joint statement, emphasizing that European and Indo-Pacific security are intertwined while jointly opposing any efforts to alter the status quo.
Taiwan’s foreign ministry also pointed out that more than 60 bipartisan members of the U.S. House and Senate had publicly voiced support for Taiwan.
