Executive Summary
- President Trump stated that Chinese President Xi Jinping personally assured him China would not invade Taiwan during his time in the White House.
- Trump reiterated his belief that Russia’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine would not have occurred had he been president.
- Russian President Vladimir Putin publicly agreed with Trump’s assertion about the Ukraine invasion and affirmed their “very good businesslike and trustworthy contact.”
The Story So Far
- The potential for a Chinese invasion of Taiwan remains a significant and ongoing geopolitical concern.
- Russia’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine continues to be a major international conflict.
Why This Matters
- President Trump’s claim of a personal assurance from President Xi regarding Taiwan’s non-invasion could indicate a potential shift in U.S. foreign policy towards Taiwan, possibly relying on personal diplomacy over traditional strategic ambiguity or deterrence, if he were to return to office.
- Russian President Putin’s public agreement that the Ukraine invasion would not have occurred under President Trump’s leadership suggests a potential reorientation of U.S. foreign policy towards Russia and European security under a future Trump administration, emphasizing personal relationships over existing alliances.
Who Thinks What?
- Donald Trump stated that Chinese President Xi Jinping personally assured him China would not invade Taiwan during his time in the White House, and that Russia’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine would not have occurred if he had been president.
- Chinese President Xi Jinping, as quoted by Trump, said he would not invade Taiwan as long as Trump was president, while also noting China’s patience.
- Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed with Trump’s assertion that the Ukraine invasion would not have happened if Trump had been president, and stated that he and Trump built a very good, businesslike, and trustworthy contact.
President Donald Trump stated that Chinese President Xi Jinping provided a personal assurance that China would not invade Taiwan during his time in the White House. Trump made these comments during an interview with Fox News’ Special Report on Friday, ahead of his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska. Newsweek reportedly contacted the Chinese Foreign Ministry for comment on the matter.
Trump’s Comments on Taiwan
During the Fox News interview, Trump recounted his interaction with President Xi regarding Taiwan. He quoted Xi as saying, “I will never do it as long as you’re president,” referring to a potential invasion of Taiwan. Trump added that he appreciated the sentiment, but also noted Xi’s statement, “But I am very patient, and China is very patient.”
Trump did not specify when these discussions with Xi took place. The former U.S. President had a confirmed telephone call with Xi in June during what would have been his second term, and also mentioned a call in April without providing further details.
Ukraine Invasion Discussion
Separately, Trump reiterated his long-held belief that Russia’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine would not have occurred had he been president at the time. Russian President Vladimir Putin publicly agreed with Trump’s assertion on Friday.
Putin told reporters, “Today when President Trump [said] that if he was the president back then, there would be no war. And I’m quite sure that it would indeed be so. I can confirm that.” Putin further commented on their relationship, stating, “I think that overall, me and President Trump have built a very good businesslike and trustworthy contact.”
The statements from both leaders provided insight into their perspectives on international relations and past events, made in the context of their recent engagement.
