‘We’re 9,500 Miles Away’: Trump Says Taiwan Issue Remains ‘Difficult’ Due To China’s Proximity

Last Updated:May 16, 2026, 08:14 IST

Trump also suggested that China may avoid military action against Taiwan while he remains in office.

US President Donald Trump questioned Washington’s continued support for Taiwan, calling the island “a little bit of a difficult problem" because of its proximity to China and Beijing’s military strength.

Speaking to Fox News after returning from China, Trump said, “When you look at the odds, China is a very, very powerful, big country. That’s a very small island. Think of it; it’s 59 miles away. We’re 9,500 miles away. That’s a little bit of a difficult problem."

He also blamed previous US administrations for Taiwan’s rise in the semiconductor sector. “If you look at the history, Taiwan was developed because we had presidents that didn’t know what the hell they were doing. They stole our chip industry," he said.

Also Read | As Xi Warns Trump Over Taiwan, Why China Sees The Island As Non-Negotiable

‘I Call It The G-2’

Trump returned to the US on Friday evening after a visit to China that focused heavily on Taiwan, trade ties and the Iran conflict. Reflecting on his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Trump described the summit as a landmark moment between “two great countries".

In the Fox News interview, he said, “It’s the two great countries. I call it the G-2. I think it’ll go down as a very important moment in history." Although Trump avoided publicly discussing Taiwan during the trip, he later acknowledged that the issue featured prominently in talks with Xi.

“President Xi and I talked a lot about Taiwan," Trump said, adding that the Chinese leader “does not want to see a fight for independence because that would be a very strong confrontation".

Trump also suggested that China may avoid military action against Taiwan while he remains in office. “I don’t think they’ll do anything when I’m here. When I’m not here. I think they might, to be honest with you," he said.

However, Trump stopped short of committing to direct military intervention if China attacked Taiwan, maintaining the US policy of strategic ambiguity. He further said that he had not yet decided whether to proceed with a previously approved US arms package for Taipei after hearing Xi’s objections.

During the visit, Trump repeatedly praised the Chinese President, describing him as a “great leader" and expressing confidence that the two countries would have a “fantastic future together". Meanwhile, China characterised the summit as the start of a new phase of “strategic stability" in ties between Beijing and Washington.

News world ‘We’re 9,500 Miles Away’: Trump Says Taiwan Issue Remains ‘Difficult’ Due To China’s Proximity

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