Taipei declares we are sovereign

18-May-2026

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US President Donald Trump’s warning against any push for Taiwanese independence has triggered a sharp response from Taipei, putting the sensitive Taiwan issue back in the spotlight after his summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Hours after Trump said the US was “not looking to have somebody go independent”, Taiwan hit back by declaring that it is already a sovereign and independent democracy and is not subordinate to China. 

“Taiwan is a sovereign and independent democratic nation, and is not subordinate to the People’s Republic of China,” Taiwan’s foreign ministry said in a statement.

The ministry also said that “Beijing has no right to claim jurisdiction over Taiwan” and added that Taipei would continue deepening cooperation with the United States while safeguarding peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.