Taiwan PM Rebuts Xi: “For 23 Million Taiwanese, ‘Return’ to China Is Not an Option”

Responding to Chinese President Xi Jinping, Taiwan’s Premier Cho Jung-tai said on Tuesday that “returning” to China is not an option for the island’s 23 million people. His remarks came after Xi, during a call with U.S. President Donald Trump, emphasized Beijing’s sovereignty claims and framed Taiwan’s “return” at the end of World War II as a key part of China’s vision for the global order.

Taiwan’s democratically elected government has consistently rejected Beijing’s position. Speaking outside parliament, Cho said, referring to the island’s official name, “We must once again underscore that the Republic of China, Taiwan, is a fully sovereign and independent country.”

“For our nation’s 23 million people, ‘returning’ is simply not an option—this is very clear,” he added. Under Taiwan’s political system, the premier oversees daily administration, while defense and foreign affairs largely fall under the president’s authority.

Taiwan Rejects Beijing’s Autonomy Model

Beijing has promoted its “one country, two systems” model for Taiwan—a proposal that has no support among Taiwan’s major political parties and has been explicitly rejected by President Lai Ching-te.

Tensions between China and Japan have also escalated this month, after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested that a hypothetical Chinese attack on Taiwan could trigger a Japanese military response.

China maintains that Taiwan is its most important and sensitive diplomatic issue.

Following his call with Xi, Trump posted on Truth Social that trade talks had made progress and that U.S.–China relations were “very strong,” without mentioning any discussion on Taiwan.

Taipei has repeatedly accused Beijing of distorting the legacy of World War II—particularly because Taiwan was placed under the administration of the Republic of China at the war’s end. The People’s Republic of China was not established until 1949, after Mao Zedong’s Communist forces defeated the ROC government, which then relocated to Taiwan.

Taiwan’s foreign ministry spokesperson Jeff Liu (Hsiao Kuang-wei) said in Taipei that China has “twisted the facts” about World War II, pointing to comments by U.S. officials in September highlighting how Beijing uses historical documents to pressure and isolate Taiwan.

“China has repeatedly tried to intimidate and coerce neighboring countries like Taiwan and Japan through its authoritarian and expansionist behavior,” he said.

China’s Growing Military Pressure

Beijing has never ruled out the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control and has intensified military activities around the island.

On Tuesday, Taiwan’s defense ministry said it detected a Chinese balloon flying over the sensitive Taiwan Strait the previous day. Taiwan argues that these balloon flights—typically seen in winter—are part of a pattern of Chinese coercive behavior.

China’s defense ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Beijing has previously dismissed Taiwan’s concerns over balloons, claiming they are used for meteorological purposes and should not be “politicized.”