US President Donald Trump announced that the United States does not wish to wage a war with China over Taiwan.
Trump told "Fox News" channel, commenting on the Taiwan issue: "I don't want anyone to declare independence so we have to travel 9,500 miles to wage a war."
He suggested that Beijing would most likely not take any steps regarding the island if the situation remains as it is.
He added: "We do not want anyone to say: let us declare independence because the United States will support us."
Beijing considers Taiwan an inseparable part of the Republic of China, and commitment to the "One China" principle is a fundamental prerequisite for other countries wishing to establish or maintain diplomatic relations with China.
US weapons sales to Taiwan have long been a major point of tension in relations between Washington and Beijing.
