Taiwan Hopes for Historic Trump-Lai Phone Call
Taiwan expresses hope for a direct conversation between President Trump and President Lai Ching-te amidst concerns raised by Trump's recent comments following the U.S.-China summit. Taiwan remains firm in its stance against Beijing's sovereignty claims, emphasizing the right of its people to decide their future.
Taiwan has expressed openness to the possibility of a direct phone conversation between President Donald Trump and Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te, a senior diplomat revealed on Monday. This comes as a response to Trump's remarks post his summit with China's President Xi Jinping, which caused unease in Taipei.
During the Beijing summit, the sensitive topic of Taiwan, which China claims as a province, was on the agenda. President Xi warned of potential conflicts if mishandled, while Trump conveyed various positions, including indecisiveness on new arms sales and the possibility of talking with President Lai.
There has not been a direct dialogue between a sitting U.S. president and Taiwan's leader since 1979, when Washington established formal ties with Beijing. Taiwan's Deputy Foreign Minister noted the importance of such a discussion, emphasizing that it would clarify intentions and strengthen ties, maintaining Taiwan's stance on its sovereignty.
(With inputs from agencies.)
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