<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/donald-trump" rel="" target="" title="Donald Trump"><span>Donald Trump</span></a><span> has alarmed </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/taiwan" rel="" target="" title="Taiwan"><span>Taiwan</span></a><span> and its supporters in Washington by appearing to side with </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/china" rel="" target="" title="China"><span>China</span></a><span> over its own independence.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-politics-updates-donald-trump-visits-china-xi-jinping/3b9adc56-fb45-4330-a224-6a2114717eb0" rel="" target="" title="Wrapping up his two-day summit in Beijing"><span>Wrapping up his two-day summit in Beijing</span></a><span>, Trump was asked by reporters whether he would support Taiwan declaring independence from China.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"On Taiwan, (Xi) does not want to see a fight for independence because that would be a very strong confrontation, and I heard it out," Trump said.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-truth-social-ai-images-conspiracy-theories-qanon-usa-world-news/beb24052-03a8-4ba5-a175-d3450cd3a196"><strong><span>Troubling conspiracy theories in Donald Trump's late night Truth Social spree</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I didn't make a comment."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>While his predecessor </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/joe-biden" rel="" target="" title="Joe Biden"><span>Joe Biden</span></a><span> had said the US would provide military support to Taiwan if China invaded, Trump demurred.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I don't want to say," he told reporters.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-china-warning-taiwan-warning-beijing-xi-jinping-world-news/af84902a-4097-4da8-a4af-1074d8bd66fb" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I think the last thing we need is a war.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It's 9500 miles (15,000km) away. I think that's the last thing we need. We're doing very well."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>When asked if Trump would allow an arms deal selling weapons to Taiwan, the president was non-committal.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The nearly $A20 billion deal has bipartisan support in Washington but is opposed by China.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A statement by the government in </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/today-in-history-december-18-what-happened-on-this-day-last-japanese-holdout/a96e5b11-fe0b-4e71-b657-91e6bc953f99" rel="" target="" title="Taiwan"><span>Taiwan</span></a><span> reiterated their independence.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It is widely known that China's military threat is the only real insecurity in the region," the statement read.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Our most important and only task is to dedicate ourselves to maintaining the status quo and our determination to defend ourselves, safeguarding the freedom and democracy of our 23 million people, and ensuring that the security and stability of the Taiwan Strait are not threatened or undermined."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-american-financial-situation-iran-usa-politics-news/461a3ba6-1091-439b-84ba-219d4d381e10"><strong><span>Donald Trump's latest comment will be used against him in November</span></strong></a><span></span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Trump's statements on Taiwan have been strongly criticised by politicians in Washington.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"By raising doubts about our commitment to defending Taiwan (our close ally which is responsible for many of the powerful chips that power our technology), Trump is massively raising the risks that China will attack Taiwan," Democratic Representative Dave Min said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Teddy Roosevelt once defined the linchpin of strong foreign policy: speak softly and carry a big stick. Trump is doing the exact opposite of that and making the world much more dangerous."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>And Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called Trump's China trip a "complete and total embarrassment".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We know Trump's incompetent in America. He's equally so abroad," Schumer said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"All he's coming home with is being chastised by Xi about Taiwan."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>While not criticising Trump directly, Republican congressmen also called for supporting Taiwan.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We have to support Taiwan, just like we have to support Ukraine," Rep Brian Fitzpatrick said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"These are the fortresses of democracy, and they're on the front lines, and we have to protect and defend them."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-china-visit-beijing-elon-musk-billionaires-apple-boeing-tesla-brett-ratner-usa-news/ab06c2f2-4bdd-4b78-9f1e-1e779a0abba4"><strong><span>The motley crew of billionaires tagging along on Trump's China visit</span></strong></a><span></span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Taiwan and China have a long and acrimonious history dating back decades.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>When Nationalist Chinese forces lost the civil war in 1949, the government relocated to Taiwan.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>From there they have governed what they describe as the Republic of China, what they consider to be a government-in-exile.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Beijing government meanwhile considers there to be only one China, and that Taiwan is a part of China.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>While they have effectively governed as separate countries for decades, Taiwan formally declaring independence from China would be seen as a provocative move.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>China has long been suspected of seeking a military invasion and takeover of the island.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Taiwan is Australia's sixth largest trading partner and a major supplier of petrol, computers, phones and other electronics.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/iran-war-vote-congress-house-of-representatives-senate-usa-politics-news/a816e23a-d2e8-479d-8bf0-a4076caf9588"><strong><span>Trump comes one vote away from being forced to end war in Iran</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. 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