00:00U.S. President Donald Trump says it is ultimately up to Chinese President Xi Jinping what China does on Taiwan.
00:07But he added he would be very unhappy if Beijing tried to change the status quo.
00:13Trump made the comments in an interview with the New York Times
00:16and the context of what lessons Xi might take from the U.S. military operation in Venezuela.
00:24Trump said he does not see Taiwan as comparable to Venezuela,
00:28arguing Taiwan does not pose the same type of threat to China that Venezuela did to the United States.
00:35He reiterated his belief that Xi Jinping is unlikely to move against Taiwan during his presidency,
00:40which runs until 2029,
00:43though he suggested China might act after a future U.S. president takes over.
00:47The Trump administration said in a strategy document last year,
00:50it aims to prevent conflict with China over Taiwan and the South China Sea
00:55by building up U.S. and allied military power.
00:58The U.S. has no formal ties with Taiwan but remains its most important backer
01:03and is required by law to provide defense support.
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