May 18, 2026

US President Donald Trump's warning against "Taiwan independence" has sent shockwaves through Taiwan's media and political circles. While pro-Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) outlets have largely attempted to downplay the remarks, a vice chairman of the Kuomintang (KMT) characterized the speech as a severe blow to the DPP and Lai Ching-te.

For analysts, the US president's remarks underscore a highly pragmatic US approach. They note that Washington appears unwilling to allow a fringe group of separatist forces to derail vital US interests tied to the stability of China-US relations.

In an interview in Beijing with Fox News following the China-US summit, President Trump repeatedly used the phrase "not looking to have" when discussing the Taiwan question, saying, "I'm not looking to have somebody go independent ... we're not looking to have somebody say, let's go independent because the United States is backing us." He also stressed the distance involved, claiming that he was not looking for the US to travel 9,500 miles to fight a war, per the program that aired in the US on Friday local time.

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https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202605/1361210.shtml