Trump refuses to say if U.S. will allow China to take control of Taiwan

Donald Trump has chosen his words carefully when it comes to Taiwan .

Trump refused to give a straightforward answer on the U.S.-allied self-governing island that China claims as its own.

Observers say there are other clues as to how his administration may approach the issue.

Taiwan 's President William Lai Ching-te has promised to increase its own defense spending to 3% of its GDP.

Reagan Administration knew this would in turn worry Taiwan and gave Taipei what is now known as “ Six Assurances” The U.S. has maintained unofficial relations with Taiwan , with the Taiwan Relations Act , the Six Assurances , and what’s come to be known as the Three Communiqués serving as the bedrock for these ties.

In 2018 , Congress passed the Taiwan Travel Act, which authorized high-ranking officials from both Taipei and Washington to visit each other, after years of not doing so to avoid upsetting China .

Vice President J.D. Vance suggested last year that the U.S. should take a more proactive role in Taiwan ’s defense, telling the New York Times : “We should make it as hard as possible for China to take Taiwan in the first place” China has launched multiple large-scale military drills around the island thus far in 2025 .