President Lai Says Taiwan Strait ‘Will Never Be Sacrificed or Traded’ After Trump–Xi Summit

Taiwan’s Lai Ching‑te thanked the United States for reaffirming that longstanding U.S. security support for Taiwan remains ‘unchanged.’

Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te speaks at a press conference on the latest round of economic talks with the United States, in Taipei, Taiwan, on Feb. 3, 2026. Ann Wang/Reuters

Taiwanese President Lai Ching‑te said on May 17 that peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait “will never be sacrificed or traded,” and that U.S. arms sales to Taiwan rest on a security commitment grounded in the Taiwan Relations Act, issuing his first comments since U.S. President Donald Trump’s summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing that ended May 15.

In a statement shared on social media, Lai thanked Trump and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio for reaffirming longstanding U.S. policy toward Taiwan, while stressing that peace in the region depends on strength, the resolve to “protect freedom and democracy,” and cooperation with friendly countries.