President Trump said in an interview Sunday that Chinese officials “know the consequences” of taking military action against Taiwan while he is in office.
in one Interview on CBS News’ “60 Minutes” Correspondent Norah O’Donnell asked the President if he would defend Taiwan if China advanced on the island. Trump avoided making any direct threats but said he was confident that would not happen.
Trump responded in the interview, “If it happens you’ll know and he understands the answer.”
Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping Met on Thursday for the first time in six yearsThe leaders discussed important agreements reached between the countries on trade and the economic tensions created by Trump’s announcement against the backdrop of the US. Resume nuclear testing.
Trump said in the interview, which was taped Friday, that the two leaders did not discuss Taiwan during their historic meeting last week.
“It didn’t even come up as a topic yesterday. They never brought it up,” Trump said. “People were a little surprised by it. He never brought it up because he understands it, and he understands it very well.”
O’Donnell pressed Trump on why he would not say what he said publicly, insisting that Xi understands “very well” about the consequences of hypothetical military action against Taiwan.
Trump responded, “I don’t want to tell, I can’t tell my secrets. I don’t want to be one of those guys that tells you what will happen if something happens. The other side knows, but I’m not the guy that tells you everything because you’re asking me a question.”
Trump added, “But they understand what’s going to happen.” “And he has said openly, and his people have said openly in meetings, ‘We will never do anything while President Trump is president,’ because they know the consequences.”
