Taiwan's foreign ministry said on Sept. 25 that remarks about Taiwan made the previous day by Chinese President Xi Jinping to President Trump in Washington 'distort the facts,' adding that only Taiwan's people can decide its future.

Xi's stated position

According to Reuters and others, Xi told the summit on the 24th that China's position on national 'reunification' and territorial integrity is clear and that he hoped the US would adhere to the 'correct position' of opposing Taiwan independence and handle the issue prudently. United Daily News said it was the first time Xi had made such a request publicly.

That is a step beyond Washington's long-standing formulation that it 'does not support' Taiwan independence. Asked about Taiwan, Trump said only that it had been 'a great meeting.'

Taipei's and Washington's responses

In a statement, Taiwan's foreign ministry called Xi's remarks 'China's consistent approach of distorting facts and unilaterally conveying its positions.' The State Department reiterated after the summit that US policy toward Taiwan had not changed, United Daily News reported.

There is also unease within Taiwan. United Daily News reported that the leaders' emphasis at the state dinner on US-China cooperation in the Second World War has left Taiwanese experts worried that the fading of the 'Republic of China' from the picture is becoming more pronounced.

With the two leaders agreeing to meet twice more this year, how Taiwan is handled in later talks has become a central concern in Taipei's politics. The timing of US arms sales to Taiwan will also remain in focus.