U.S. President Donald Trump has cautioned Taiwan against formally declaring independence, following a warning by Chinese leader Xi Jinping during a summit in Beijing that missteps over the democratic island could push the U.S. and Washington into conflict.?
Asked if U.S. policy toward Taiwan had shifted, Trump said ¡°nothing¡¯s changed,¡± but made clear that he is opposed to a declaration of independence by the island, which China claims as its own, while appearing to question any need for the United States to defend the island in event of an attack.
"I'm not looking to have somebody go independent. And, you know, we're supposed to travel 9,500 miles (15,290 kilometers) to fight a war. I'm not looking for that,¡± he said in an interview with Fox News that aired Friday in the U.S.
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