Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States is holding firmly to its established Taiwan policy, even as Washington works to maintain a delicate balance with China after recent discussions between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Speaking in an interview with NBC News, Rubio noted that Xi once again made clear that Taiwan remains “the most important issue” in relations between the two nations, reflecting Beijing’s longstanding position on the matter.

Rubio pushed back by reiterating that the United States rejects any “forced change in the status quo,” cautioning that such an action would create serious instability not only between the two countries but across the global economy.

He emphasized that American policy toward Taiwan “has not changed,” pointing out that it has remained steady through multiple administrations.

Rubio also confirmed that Taiwan was part of the conversation during the meeting between the two leaders, though he indicated that China’s opposition to U.S. weapons sales to Taiwan “did not feature prominently” in those discussions.

“The issue of Taiwan is unchanged as of today and as of the meeting we had here today,” Rubio said, adding that Washington continues to support strategic stability and open communication with Beijing to avoid miscalculation and broader conflict.

According to Rubio, China continues to favor a peaceful political reunification with Taiwan, but he warned that any effort to achieve that goal through military force “would be a terrible mistake” with far-reaching consequences around the world.

He also drew attention to the rapid pace of China’s military development, describing the expansion of its armed forces over the past decade as “without precedent.”

Rubio said Beijing’s intentions appear to extend beyond Taiwan, with a broader effort underway to expand its influence globally in direct competition with the United States.

His remarks highlight the ongoing challenge facing U.S. policymakers as they attempt to manage a complex and sensitive relationship with China.

The United States continues to follow the “One China” policy, formally recognizing Beijing as the government of China while maintaining unofficial ties with Taiwan.

At the same time, under the Taiwan Relations Act, Washington remains committed to supporting Taiwan’s ability to defend itself.

This approach, commonly known as “strategic ambiguity,” is intended to discourage both a Chinese military move against Taiwan and any formal declaration of independence by Taipei, while also preventing a direct military clash between the two global powers.

As China increases its military activity in the Indo-Pacific region and steps up pressure on Taiwan through drills and naval operations, U.S. officials are working to reassure allies, strengthen Taiwan’s defenses, and maintain economic engagement with Beijing without escalating tensions further.

{Matzav.com}