Taiwan leader Lai Ching-te says 'foreign forces' cannot decide island’s future

Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te stated that 'foreign forces cannot decide the future of the island,' following US President Donald Trump's remarks on using arms sales to Taiwan as leverage with China.

Wed May 20 2026

Taiwan President Rejects Foreign Intervention

Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te stated on Wednesday that 'foreign forces' could not decide the future of the democratic island. This declaration came days after US President Donald Trump suggested that arms sales to Taiwan could be used as leverage in talks with China.

China's Sovereignty Claims and Pressure

Beijing claims Taiwan as its territory and has threatened to seize it by force. Against this backdrop of Chinese pressure, President Lai Ching-te's remarks underscore Taiwan's commitment to defending its sovereignty.

*Source: France24 (2026-05-20)*

Tags: #Taiwan #Lai Ching-te #Trump #China #US