Taiwan says cooperation with the United States will remain unchanged despite China’s warning

Thursday 05 February 2026 - 10:00

By: Sahili Aya

Taiwan says cooperation with the United States will remain unchanged despite China’s warning

Taiwan’s president Lai Ching-te said on Thursday that cooperation between Taipei and Washington would continue without disruption, following a warning from Chinese President Xi Jinping to his US counterpart Donald Trump regarding arms sales to the island.

Speaking to reporters after visiting a textile factory in central Taiwan, Lai emphasized that relations with the United States remain “rock solid” and that all existing cooperation programs are moving forward as planned. He added that Washington’s commitments toward Taipei have not shifted and that communication channels between the two sides remain strong.

The remarks came a day after Chinese state media reported that Xi Jinping had urged the United States to exercise caution in its military support for Taiwan during a phone call with President Trump. Beijing has long opposed US arms sales to the self-governed island, viewing them as interference in its internal affairs.

Taiwan and mainland China have been governed separately since the end of the Chinese civil war in 1949. While Beijing insists on eventual reunification, it has not ruled out the use of force. The United States, despite not formally recognizing Taiwan, remains its most important international backer and primary supplier of defensive weapons.

Washington’s recently released 2026 National Defense Strategy highlights deterrence in the Indo-Pacific region but avoids explicit references to Taiwan, a shift that has drawn attention amid rising regional tensions.