‘Terrible mistake’ if China takes Taiwan by force; US position unchanged: Rubio

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has cautioned that any Chinese attempt to seize Taiwan by force would be a “terrible mistake”, while asserting that Washington’s policy towards the island remains unchanged, according to an Associated Press report.

The remarks come amid renewed focus on Taiwan during high-level meetings between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. China claims the self-ruled island as part of its territory and has repeatedly refused to rule out the use of force for reunification.

Earlier, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent indicated that Trump was likely to address the Taiwan issue further during his China visit.


Also Read: US, China could 'clash' if Taiwan issue mishandled: Xi warns Trump

“It wouldn't be a US-China summit without the Taiwan issue coming up,” Bessent told CNBC, adding that Trump “understands the issues here and understands the sensitivities around all this.”

He also defended Trump’s diplomatic approach, saying those criticising the president “do not understand the negotiating style of Donald Trump.”

Xi, meanwhile, warned Trump that any mistakes over Taiwan could drive the two countries into “conflict”, highlighting the growing tensions surrounding one of the most sensitive issues in US-China relations.

China has significantly increased military pressure around Taiwan in recent years through war games, naval deployments and air incursions near the island, prompting concern from the US and its allies.

Also Read: Xi's 'blunt' warning to Trump on Taiwan exposes profound risks: Analysts

Taiwan has consistently maintained that its future should be decided by its people and has continued efforts to bolster its defence preparedness amid mounting pressure from Beijing.