By Martin Banks

Taiwan has hit out at what it calls an “escalating military threat” posed by its neighbour China.

The comments come in the wake of last week’s key meeting in Beijing between U.S President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart, President Xi Jinping.

The main focus of the trip was trade but it was the other “T” – Taiwan – that made many headlines around the globe.

Xi told Trump that Taiwan was the most important issue in their relationship and warned that if it was not handled properly, there would be “clashes and even conflicts, putting the entire relationship in great jeopardy”,

According to international media reports, President Trump cautioned Taiwan against formally declaring independence from China.

In an interview with the U.S TV network Fox News after meetings with President Xi, President Trump repeated that US policy on Taiwan had not changed, while underlining he did not seek conflict with Beijing.

His remarks came after a two-day summit in Beijing, after which he said he had “made no commitment either way” about the self-governing island – which China claims as part of its territory and has not ruled out taking by force.

Responding, Taiwan Presidential Office spokesperson Karen Kuo issued a statement  which said that, “as is widely known, China’s escalating military threat is the sole destabilizing factor within the Indo-Pacific region, including the Taiwan Strait.”

The Taiwan statement went on, “This threat is also the primary reason why countries along the first island chain are actively collaborating with the US to strengthen their defense capabilities, and Taiwan cannot and will not be an exception.”

It continued, “Furthermore, military sales between Taiwan and the US are not only a reflection of the US security commitment to Taiwan as stipulated in the Taiwan Relations Act, but also serve as a mutual deterrence against regional threats.”

She said that Taiwan President Lai Ching-te “has consistently advocated for continuing to contribute to regional peace and stability and remaining committed to maintaining the status quo across the Taiwan Strait.”

She added, “This also remains the unwavering commitment of the 23 million people of Taiwan who love freedom and democracy.

“The Republic of China is a sovereign, independent democratic country; this is self-evident, and Beijing’s claims are therefore without merit,” said the statement.

The spokeswoman went on, “Our nation appreciates President Trump’s longstanding, continuous support for security in the Taiwan Strait, including the ongoing provision of various advanced equipment to our country, with the scale and monetary value of these sales repeatedly reaching historic highs.”

According to remarks published by Chinese state media, President Xi said last week the Taiwan question was the “most important issue in China-US relations”.

“If mishandled, the two nations could collide or even come into conflict, pushing the entire China-US relationship into a highly perilous situation,”  the Chinese president reportedly added.

China claims Taiwan based on historical ties, its foundational “One China” political principle, and the unresolved outcome of the Chinese Civil War. The Chinese Communist Party views the island as a renegade province that must be reunited with the mainland, a key step in its national revival.

Beijing operates under the stance that there is only one China, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of it. The PRC says it strongly opposes any actions by other countries that suggest Taiwan is an independent nation or a separate state.