Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te stated that external powers cannot determine the island's future, pushing back against potential US leverage in talks with China. Beijing considers Taiwan its territory.

Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te said on Wednesday that “foreign forces” could not decide the future of the democratic island, days after US President Donald Trump suggested arms sales to Taiwan could be used as leverage in talks with China. Beijing claims Taiwan as its territory and has threatened to seize it by force.