U.S. Taiwan policy unchanged after Trump-Xi talks: Envoy

Washington, Sept. 25 (CNA) U.S. policy toward Taiwan has not changed following talks between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平), Washington's top envoy to Beijing said Friday, a day after the two leaders met at the White House.

"There's no change in the Taiwan policy here," U.S. Ambassador to China David Perdue told CNBC in an interview aired Friday morning (Washington time) when asked about the possibility that Xi might have tried to persuade Trump to soften his stance on Taiwan.

Trump is "fully committed to the One-China policy," Perdue said, adding that the United States remains committed to the Taiwan Relations Act, the three joint communiqués and the Six Assurances.

"Nothing has changed there," he said. "We're not changing the language. We're not changing our position there. We want peace across the strait. We don't want coercion. We don't support independence."

Perdue said Washington believed Xi had received that message, adding that Trump had "shown respect and listened to their side of that argument."

The American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), which represents U.S. interests in Taiwan in the absence of formal diplomatic ties, had not issued any statement on the Trump-Xi summit as of press time.

Taiwan was among the closely watched issues during Thursday's Trump-Xi meeting, and the two leaders did not respond to reporters' questions afterward on whether the issue had been discussed.

In a readout issued after the meeting, China's Foreign Ministry stated that Xi urged Trump to oppose "Taiwan independence" and "prudently handle the Taiwan question," saying that Beijing's position on "national reunification and territorial integrity" was clear-cut.

The White House, meanwhile, said in a statement Friday that Trump and Xi held "productive bilateral discussions," but made no mention of Taiwan.

Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan (彭麗媛), concluded their state visit to the U.S. Friday after having tea with Trump and first lady Melania Trump at the White House and visiting the National Archives.

Chinese pro-democracy activists and members of pro-China groups gathered outside the National Archives during Xi's visit, with the two sides exchanging competing slogans while police kept them separated.

After Xi's departure, Trump said on the social-media platform Truth Social that the meeting was one of "Friendship, Strength, and Success" for both countries.

"We will be meeting again in November, in China, and then at the G20 in December, in Miami, Florida," Trump wrote.

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting is scheduled to take place in Shenzhen in November, while the Group of 20 (G20) summit will be held in Miami in December.

Trump also said that "much has been, and will be, accomplished," adding that he looked forward to his next meeting with Xi.

Xi's three-day state visit marked his first trip to the White House in 11 years and his second meeting with Trump this year, following their summit in Beijing in May.