Taiwan president: We will not be sacrificed or traded

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te on Sunday issued his first direct response to last week's summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping, asserting that Taiwan will not be sacrificed or traded and will not abandon its democratic way of life under pressure. Lai's Facebook post came amid heightened concern in Taiwan following Trump's announcement that he was considering withholding approval of a $14 billion arms sale to the island, saying it could serve as a "negotiating chip" dependent on China. The president reiterated that Taiwan would not provoke conflict but would not concede its sovereignty or democratic freedoms, while emphasizing that China remains the source of regional instability. Lai framed Taiwan-U.S. security cooperation and arms sales as obligations under the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act, calling them "the most important deterrent force over the years against actions that undermine regional peace and stability." He thanked the United States for its continued attention to cross-strait peace while expressing that the public was "very concerned" about the Taiwan content of the Xi meeting. The Trump administration approved a record $11 billion arms package in December, with a second package worth approximately $14 billion still pending presidential approval. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer attempted to downplay concerns about a policy shift, telling ABC's "This Week" that there is "no change" in American policy on Taiwan and that Trump would "keep his own counsel" on arms sales. However, Trump's statement that he discussed arms sales "in great detail" with Xi could constitute a violation of the Six Assurances, a 1982 commitment that the U.S. would not consult Beijing on weapons sales to Taiwan. House Speaker Mike Johnson expressed strong Congressional support for Taiwan, saying "China cannot just go over and take the land, and we're going to stand strong and resolute by that." Lai also reiterated his position that the Republic of China, Taiwan's formal name, is a "sovereign, independent, democratic country" whose future must be determined by its own people.