TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) on Sunday said the country is not subordinate to China after U.S. President Donald Trump said he is still considering a US$14 billion (NT$442.57 billion) arms sale to Taiwan.

In a Facebook post, Lai addressed concerns over Taiwan-related issues discussed during the Trump-Xi meeting after being briefed by his national security team, per CNA. He noted that the US government, including Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, has repeatedly reaffirmed that long-standing US policy toward Taiwan remains unchanged.

Lai said Taiwan is a defender of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the broader region, while China is the source of regional instability and attempts to alter the status quo. He added that Taiwan is a sovereign and independent democratic country not subordinate to China, and that this is the consensus of the Taiwanese, meaning there is no “Taiwan independence issue.”

The president said Taiwan-US security cooperation and arms sales under the Taiwan Relations Act are essential to maintaining regional peace and stability. He said the weapons sales not only represent the US security commitment to Taiwan but also serve as a key deterrent against forces that undermine stability in the region.

Lai thanked Trump for his support for Taiwan Strait peace since his first term. He said this support has included increasing the scale of arms sales to help Taiwan strengthen its self-defense capabilities.

The president said Taiwan is a key hub in the first island chain for Indo-Pacific security and defense. He said continued US arms sales and deeper Taiwan-US security cooperation remain necessary as China expands its military capabilities and refuses to renounce the use of force against Taiwan.

Lai underscored that “Taiwan is central to global interests, and peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait will never be sacrificed or traded away.” He added that Taiwan is a crucial node in Indo-Pacific security, a global hub for AI and semiconductor development, and an indispensable part of global supply chain restructuring.

The president warned that actions that undermine peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait are not only a blatant challenge to international rules and order, but will also have a significant impact on Indo-Pacific security, global supply chains, and the world economy.

Lai's comments came after Trump told Fox News, following his talks with Xi, that he was considering whether to approve the arms sale. When asked what the decision was hinging on, Trump said, “I’m holding that in abeyance, and it depends on China. It’s a very good negotiating chip for us, frankly. It’s a lot of weapons.” He added, “We're not looking to have somebody say, 'Let's go independent because the United States is backing us.'”