The remarks came after Trump’s summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, where the US president acknowledged uncertainty over future military sales to Taiwan, raising questions about Washington’s security commitment to the self-governed island claimed by China.

Despite having no formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, the United States remains Taipei’s most significant international supporter and is required under the Taiwan Relations Act to provide the island with defensive weapons.

Karen Kuo, spokesperson for Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te, said China’s intensifying military activities represented the main destabilizing force in the Indo-Pacific region, including the Taiwan Strait.

“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,” Kuo said in a statement.She added that Taiwan appreciated Trump’s continued support for stability in the Taiwan Strait and would continue strengthening cooperation with Washington.

Reuters previously reported that a proposed second US arms package for Taiwan valued at approximately $14 billion remains pending approval after the Trump administration approved an $11 billion package in December.

Taiwanese Deputy Foreign Minister Chen Ming-chi declined to comment directly on the pending sale, saying discussions remained ongoing with Washington.Taiwan’s government has also struggled to secure passage of a broader $40 billion defense spending proposal through an opposition-controlled parliament.

Earlier this month lawmakers approved roughly two-thirds of the requested budget, specifically allocating it for US arms procurement.US lawmakers from both major parties have urged the administration to continue supporting Taiwan militarily amid growing pressure from Beijing.

Trump also suggested he could speak directly with Lai regarding the proposed sale, telling reporters after his meeting with Xi that he needed to talk with “the person that’s running Taiwan.”Chen said Taipei was still trying to determine the “true intent” behind Trump’s comments.

A senior Taiwanese security official, speaking anonymously because of the issue’s sensitivity, said arms discussions should involve Taiwan rather than Beijing.China has increased military operations around Taiwan in recent years and has not ruled out using force to bring the island under its control.

Beijing rejects Lai’s government and labels him a separatist.Kuo reiterated Taiwan’s position that the Republic of China, the island’s formal name, is “a sovereign, independent democratic country,” dismissing Beijing’s sovereignty claims.

The remarks introduced fresh uncertainty into Washington’s long-standing security support for Taiwan following Trump’s summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Friday.

Despite lacking formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, the United States remains the island’s principal international backer and is legally obligated under the Taiwan Relations Act to provide defensive weapons.

In a statement, spokesperson Karen Kuo for Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te said China’s growing military pressure represented the primary destabilizing factor in the Indo-Pacific region and the Taiwan Strait.

“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,” Kuo said.

Taiwan thanked Trump for what Kuo described as his continued support for security in the Taiwan Strait and said Taipei would continue strengthening cooperation with Washington.

Reuters previously reported that a second US arms package for Taiwan valued at around $14 billion remains pending presidential approval after the Trump administration approved a record $11 billion package in December.

Speaking in Taipei, Deputy Foreign Minister Chen Ming-chi declined to comment directly on the pending package because it has not been formally announced, but said Taiwan remained in communication with US officials.

Taiwan’s opposition-controlled parliament has delayed the government’s broader effort to secure an additional $40 billion in defense spending. Earlier this month lawmakers approved roughly two-thirds of the requested amount, earmarking it specifically for US arms purchases.

Republican and Democratic lawmakers in Washington have publicly urged the Trump administration to maintain weapons sales to Taiwan amid growing Chinese military activity near the island.

Trump also suggested after meeting Xi that he could speak directly with Lai regarding the proposed arms sale, saying he would need to talk with “the person … that’s running Taiwan.”

Chen said Taipei was still attempting to understand the “true intent” behind Trump’s comments.
A senior Taiwanese security official, speaking anonymously because of the sensitivity of the issue, said discussions over arms sales should involve Taiwan rather than Beijing.

China claims Taiwan as its territory and has never ruled out the use of force to bring the island under its control. Beijing has rejected repeated offers of talks from Lai, whom Chinese officials label a separatist.
Kuo reiterated Taiwan’s long-standing position that the Republic of China, Taiwan’s formal name, is “a sovereign, independent democratic country.”

Chinese military operations around Taiwan continued during Trump’s visit to Beijing, according to Taiwanese officials, as tensions over the island’s future remained a central flashpoint in US-China relations.

Modi’s six-day visit starts in the United Arab Emirates before continuing to the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and Italy, with New Delhi seeking to secure energy supplies and deepen economic ties with Europe following the India-European Union free trade agreement finalized in January.

The trip comes as disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz and Gulf maritime corridors continue to pressure energy-importing economies. India, the world’s third-largest oil buyer, typically sources nearly half of its crude imports through the strategic waterway.

India’s foreign ministry said discussions in the UAE would focus on “strengthening our energy security,” including cooperation on oil and liquefied petroleum gas supplies. The Gulf nation hosts an Indian diaspora estimated at 4.5 million people and remains one of New Delhi’s key energy partners.

Analysts said the visit reflects India’s broader push to diversify strategic partnerships while positioning itself as an alternative manufacturing and technology hub amid shifting geopolitical alignments and supply-chain realignments away from China.

“The recently concluded India-EU free trade agreement has already created momentum,” former Indian ambassador Anil Wadhwa told AFP, adding that India was seeking to position itself as a “trusted economic, technological and clean energy partner.”The European leg of the tour will focus heavily on trade and investment cooperation.

Modi is scheduled to meet Dutch leaders later on Friday for talks expected to cover bilateral trade, defense cooperation, semiconductors, water management, agriculture and healthcare.India and the EU concluded a landmark free trade agreement in January, which Modi described as the “mother of all deals.” European policymakers increasingly view India, the world’s most populous country, as a critical market and strategic counterweight in Asia.

In Sweden, Modi will attend a European business leaders forum alongside Ursula von der Leyen before traveling to Oslo for an India-Nordic summit, marking the first visit by an Indian prime minister to Norway in more than four decades.

Former Indian ambassador K.C. Singh said the Gulf leg of the visit also reflected changing regional alignments following escalating Middle East tensions.“A new international environment now prevails,” Singh told AFP, citing fractures within the Gulf Cooperation Council and growing strategic competition involving Iran, Gulf states, the United States and Israel.

Modi also met Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in New Delhi on Thursday ahead of the trip, underlining India’s effort to maintain diplomatic engagement across rival regional blocs.Energy analysts said New Delhi could pursue agreements linked to strategic petroleum reserves and long-term LPG supply arrangements to reduce vulnerability to price shocks and shipping disruptions.

The Nordic portion of the tour is also expected to include discussions on Arctic cooperation and climate-linked shipping routes. India operates a research station on Norway’s Svalbard archipelago and has increasingly monitored the commercial and environmental implications of melting polar sea ice.

Indian lawmaker Shashi Tharoor wrote in the Indian Express that India and Nordic nations shared interests in preserving international stability “at a time when the turbulence of the Trumpian era has unsettled global norms.”

The final stop of Modi’s tour will be Italy on May 19, where he is expected to meet Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni for talks on bilateral cooperation and regional security issues.

Trump, wrapping up meetings in Beijing before returning to Washington, described ties with China as being in “a good place” and said Xi had congratulated him on recent political and diplomatic successes during their discussions.

The optimistic rhetoric contrasted with persistent tensions between the world’s two largest economies, particularly over Taiwan and the ongoing Iran conflict, which has disrupted global energy markets and intensified geopolitical competition.

Chinese officials said Xi warned Trump during private talks that mishandling the Taiwan issue could push the two powers toward “clashes and even conflicts,” underscoring Beijing’s view that the self-ruled island remains its most sensitive sovereignty concern.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington’s policy toward Taiwan remained unchanged and cautioned Beijing against attempting to take the island by force.

“It would be a terrible mistake,” Rubio told NBC News, adding that both sides routinely reiterated their established positions during high-level engagements.
Taiwan has emerged as a growing source of friction in U.S.-China relations amid expanded American arms support for Taipei and increasing Chinese military pressure around the island.

The White House announced an $11 billion weapons package for Taiwan in December, the largest approved for the island, although deliveries have yet to begin.
Trump has also pressed Taiwan to raise defense spending and expand investment in U.S. semiconductor manufacturing, while calling for Taipei to increase purchases of American energy exports.

China has intensified its rhetoric in recent weeks, emphasizing that Taiwan lies at the “core” of its national interests. Analysts in Taiwan said Beijing’s sharper tone reflected growing concern over deepening defense cooperation between Washington and Taipei.

Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz also featured prominently in discussions between Trump and Xi, according to U.S. officials.

Trump said both leaders agreed the strategic waterway should reopen after disruptions linked to the Iran conflict sharply reduced oil shipments and fueled volatility in global energy markets. Before the conflict erupted on Feb. 28, roughly one-fifth of global oil supplies passed through the strait.

Speaking to Fox News, Trump said Xi had privately offered assistance in resolving the conflict and expressed opposition to imposing tolls on vessels crossing Hormuz.

“He’d like to see the Hormuz Strait open,” Trump said, adding that Xi indicated China could consider purchasing more U.S. oil to reduce reliance on Gulf supplies over time.

Beijing has criticized U.S. and Israeli military operations against Iran but also faces economic risks from prolonged instability in the Gulf, given China’s dependence on imported energy and export-driven growth model.

Rubio said administration officials sought to persuade Chinese counterparts that resolving the conflict aligned with Beijing’s economic interests, warning that sustained turmoil could weaken global demand and harm Chinese exports.

Trade and investment were also central to the visit, with the White House signaling before Trump’s arrival that it expected concrete economic outcomes from the trip.

Trump said Xi had indicated China could purchase 200 Boeing aircraft from the United States, while both governments discussed increasing Chinese imports of U.S. agricultural products including soybeans and beef.
The two sides also explored expanding bilateral investment opportunities and establishing a joint trade board aimed at managing commercial disputes, according to the White House.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang emphasized stability and cooperation during meetings with senior American business executives accompanying Trump’s delegation, including Elon Musk, Tim Cook and Jensen Huang.

“China and the United States have been able to maintain frank and smooth dialogue and communication,” Li said, while calling for both sides to safeguard stable bilateral ties amid global uncertainty.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi made the remarks during a phone call on Tuesday with Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, according to China’s state news agency Xinhua.

“China will continue to support Pakistan’s mediation efforts and make its own contribution toward this end,” Wang said, Xinhua reported, referring to diplomatic engagement aimed at easing tensions between Washington and Tehran and addressing issues linked to the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

The comments came as Trump was expected to arrive in Beijing on Wednesday evening for meetings with Xi, whose government maintains close economic and strategic ties with Iran despite persistent friction between Tehran and Washington.

Pakistan has increasingly positioned itself as an intermediary between the United States and Iran as negotiations continue over a potential peace framework following recent conflict between the two countries.

Iran on Tuesday rejected suggestions that it should revise its latest proposals in the talks, after Trump dismissed the proposals as “garbage,” according to statements carried by international media.

The Strait of Hormuz, located between Oman and Iran, remains one of the world’s most critical maritime oil transit routes, carrying a significant share of global crude exports.

Any disruption to shipping through the waterway has historically raised concerns in energy markets and among major importing economies, including China.
Beijing has repeatedly called for dialogue and de-escalation in the Middle East while seeking to protect energy supply chains vital to its economy.

China has also expanded diplomatic engagement in the region in recent years, including brokering the restoration of diplomatic ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia in 2023.

Trump’s visit to Beijing comes amid broader discussions between Washington and Beijing over regional security, trade tensions and the future of U.S. policy toward Taiwan, according to officials and state media reports.

The two-day meeting comes as the expanded BRICS grouping, now comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates, faces growing diplomatic strain over the Gulf conflict and its economic fallout.

Iran has urged India, which holds the BRICS chairmanship for 2026, to use the forum to forge a consensus condemning military actions by the United States and Israel, according to officials familiar with preparations for the meeting.

The sharpest divisions have emerged between Iran and the United Arab Emirates, which are aligned on opposing sides of the conflict that erupted following military operations launched by the United States and Israel on Feb. 28.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is expected to arrive in New Delhi late on Wednesday for the talks, which run through May 15. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is also expected to attend, while it remained unclear who would represent the UAE delegation.

Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said earlier this year that forging consensus within BRICS had become difficult because several member states were directly involved in the conflict.

An Indian government official told Reuters New Delhi remained hopeful that discussions among ministers could still result in a joint communique despite continuing disagreements.

“Glad that the foreign ministers from all the BRICS countries, except China who is otherwise tied up, are coming,” former Indian diplomat Manjeev Singh Puri said. “This is a good sign on efforts to build a BRICS coalition around a matter of interest to emerging economies and the global south.”

China will instead be represented by its ambassador to India, Xu Feihong, as Foreign Minister Wang Yi is not expected to attend due to President Donald Trump’s visit to Beijing this week.

The war has intensified pressure on BRICS economies through rising energy costs and market volatility, prompting several member states, including India, to introduce emergency measures aimed at cushioning consumers and stabilizing domestic markets.

China has maintained a publicly neutral position throughout the conflict while balancing close ties with Iran alongside expanding economic and diplomatic relations with Sunni-majority Gulf states.

Trump is scheduled to visit Beijing from Wednesday to Friday for high-level talks with Xi, where the issue of self-governed Taiwan is expected to feature prominently amid ongoing tensions between Washington and Beijing.

China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has repeatedly refused to renounce the use of force to bring the island under its control. Beijing has increased military pressure on Taiwan in recent years through naval patrols, air incursions and large-scale military exercises around the island.Speaking to reporters in Taipei, Taiwan Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung said the government remained in close contact with Washington and was carefully monitoring preparations for the Trump-Xi meeting.

“We have also maintained continuous communication with the United States whether through public statements from the U.S. government or through non-public channels. We are confident in the stable development of Taiwan-U.S. relations,” Lin said.“The U.S. government has repeatedly expressed that its Taiwan policy will not change,” he added.

The United States maintains unofficial ties with Taiwan but is legally obligated under the Taiwan Relations Act to provide the island with defensive capabilities. Washington has long viewed peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait as central to Indo-Pacific security.U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last week that maintaining stability across the Taiwan Strait remained a priority for Washington.

At the same time, the United States has intensified pressure on allies and partners, including Taiwan, to increase military spending in response to growing geopolitical threats and expanding Chinese military capabilities.Taiwan’s opposition-controlled parliament last week approved a reduced special defense budget, falling short of the amount requested by the government.

A senior U.S. official said on Sunday that Washington was disappointed by the lower allocation, arguing the spending level did not fully match Taiwan’s security needs.Lin urged lawmakers to take corrective action to strengthen defense funding, saying deterrence depended on Taiwan’s ability to demonstrate credible self-defense capabilities.

“Peace depends on strength it requires demonstrating the defense capability for self-defense in order to deter aggression,” Lin said.He also accused China’s Communist leadership of accelerating military expansion and promoting authoritarian influence beyond its borders.

The Trump-Xi summit is expected to be closely watched by governments across Asia and the wider international community for indications of how the world’s two largest powers intend to manage growing strategic rivalry, particularly over Taiwan and regional security.

In a statement issued in Geneva, the UN human rights office said its Sudan monitoring team had determined that drone attacks accounted for more than 80 percent of all conflict-related civilian deaths recorded during the first four months of 2026.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said the rapid expansion of drone warfare had transformed the nature of the conflict.“Armed drones have now become by far and away the leading cause of civilian deaths,” Turk said.

The warning underscores escalating concerns among humanitarian agencies and international observers over the intensifying use of unmanned aerial systems in Sudan’s civil war, which erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.

The conflict has devastated large parts of the country, displaced millions of civilians and triggered what aid organizations describe as one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.The UN did not specify which parties were responsible for the drone strikes cited in its report, but rights monitors have repeatedly warned that the growing availability of armed drone technology has widened the scale and reach of attacks on populated areas.

Human rights officials cautioned that the increasing reliance on drones risked accelerating civilian casualties while further complicating efforts to secure ceasefires or humanitarian access.

Sudan’s capital Khartoum and several regions including Darfur have witnessed heavy fighting, air strikes and widespread destruction since the war began, with repeated allegations of violations of international humanitarian law by both sides.

International mediation efforts led by regional powers, the African Union and the United Nations have so far failed to produce a durable ceasefire.

The military identified the soldier as Sergeant Major Alexander Glovanyov, 47, who was killed on Sunday in fighting close to the Israel-Lebanon frontier.
His death brings the number of Israeli military personnel killed since the conflict with Hezbollah intensified in early March to 18, according to Israeli military figures. One Israeli civilian contractor has also been killed during the hostilities.

Fighting has continued in southern Lebanon despite a ceasefire agreement signed between Israel and Lebanon on April 17 that was intended to halt cross-border exchanges of fire and reduce the risk of a broader regional escalation.

Hezbollah entered the conflict on March 2 after launching rockets into Israel, saying the attacks were retaliation for the killing of Iran’s supreme leader in joint U.S.-Israeli strikes, according to statements from the group.

Israel responded with extensive airstrikes and later expanded operations into a ground campaign in southern Lebanon.

Israeli forces are currently operating behind what the military describes as a “yellow line,” an Israeli-declared security zone extending roughly 10 kilometers north of Lebanon’s border.

The latest casualty announcement came as smoke was seen rising from areas in southern Lebanon following reported Israeli airstrikes targeting the village of Choukine, according to AFP images from the region.

The ongoing exchanges have heightened concerns that fighting between Israel and Hezbollah could evolve into a wider regional confrontation involving Iran and allied armed groups across the Middle East.

Diplomatic efforts led by international mediators have so far failed to fully enforce the ceasefire or secure a durable de-escalation along the volatile frontier.

Foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said Tehran’s response focused on what it described as Iran’s “legitimate rights” rather than demands for concessions from Washington.

“We did not demand any concessions. The only thing we demanded was Iran’s legitimate rights,” Baqaei told reporters during a weekly press briefing in Tehran.
According to Baqaei, Iran’s position included calls for “an end to the war in the region,” the lifting of what he described as a U.S. naval blockade and the release of Iranian assets frozen in foreign financial institutions for several years.

Iran has long sought access to billions of dollars in overseas funds restricted under U.S. sanctions, which were intensified after Washington withdrew from the 2015 nuclear agreement during President Donald Trump’s first administration.

The latest comments come amid heightened tensions across the Middle East, where regional conflicts involving Israel, Iran-aligned groups and U.S. forces have increased diplomatic pressure on Washington and Tehran to prevent wider escalation.

Iranian officials have repeatedly linked broader regional stability to the easing of sanctions and the normalization of economic access, while U.S. officials have maintained pressure over Tehran’s nuclear activities and support for armed groups in the region.

Baqaei did not provide further details about the contents of the U.S. proposal or indicate whether negotiations between the two sides were ongoing.

The remarks come as indirect diplomatic contacts between Tehran and Washington continue against the backdrop of military tensions stretching from Gaza and Lebanon to the Red Sea and Gulf waters.