President Trump is declining to reveal whether the U.S. would defend Taiwan if China invaded the democratic island.
Mr. Trump weighed in on the potential defense of Taiwan, which Beijing considers a breakaway province, on the flight home from his visit with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
“I don’t want to say,” Mr. Trump said Friday on Air Force One. “There’s only one person that knows that. You know who it is? Me, I’m the only person.”
U.S. policy toward Taiwan is a key issue for Mr. Xi and the Chinese.
American politicians often recognize a “one China” policy while supporting the island’s democratic principles and right to a degree of autonomy, angering the Chinese side.
Mr. Xi told Mr. Trump on Thursday that any mishandling of Taiwan could lead to “clashes and even conflicts,” a stark message at the outset of the U.S. leader’s visit.
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Mr. Trump is trying to maintain a stable personal relationship with Mr. Xi and land trade deals with China that benefit Americans.
Still, China’s aggression in the South China Sea has produced constant worries about a possible invasion of Taiwan, complicating relations
Mr. Trump said Mr. Xi asked him whether he would defend Taiwan.
“I said, ‘I don’t talk about those things,’” Mr. Trump said.
