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Trump Declines to Commit on Taiwan Defense in Beijing Talks with Xi

President Trump refused to answer directly whether the U.S. would defend Taiwan if attacked by China. He made this statement Friday aboard Air Force One following a two-day summit in Beijing. When reporters asked about American commitment to the island's defense, Trump said he would not discuss the matter publicly. "That question was asked to me today by President Xi. I said I don't talk about that," Trump told the press corps. The president emphasized that only he knows the answer to Taiwan's defense scenario. During summit opening remarks, Chinese President Xi Jinping warned that mishandling Taiwan independence issues could create "clashes and even conflicts" between the two nations and jeopardize their entire bilateral relationship. Xi characterized Taiwan as "the most important issue" in U.S.-China relations.