Taiwan’s representative to the U.S., Alexander Yui, said Sunday the island is not the aggressor in tensions with China. “We want peace and stability,” Yui said on Face the Nation, emphasizing that Taiwan seeks normal life-not conflict.
The comments come days after President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a summit in Beijing where Taiwan was a central topic. Yui warned Trump heard only China’s perspective during those talks. “He heard the Chinese story,” Yui said. “We’d love to tell our side-the Taiwan story-of resiliency against Chinese aggression.”
Yui noted this dynamic has persisted for 77 years, since the founding of the People’s Republic in 1949, and is not tied to the current ruling party.
Trump has framed pending U.S. arms sales to Taiwan as a “very good negotiating chip,” telling both sides to “cool it.” Yui interpreted that as a call to maintain the status quo in the Taiwan Strait. “Peace and stability is good for all parties,” Yui said.
Asked about formal independence, Yui clarified that Taiwan seeks independence from Chinese aggression, not a unilateral declaration. “We are sovereign, independent-away from China’s attempt to swallow us,” he said. Yui stressed Taiwan does not want war, comparing the situation to “intruders trying to get into our house.”