Former US President Donald Trump raised alarm bells over the potential for China to intensify its relations with Taiwan, attributing this concern to what he perceives as President Joe Biden’s incompetence. Speaking at a Republican Party event in South Carolina, Trump voiced his worries regarding China’s actions towards Taiwan.

Trump asserted that Chinese President Xi Jinping’s respect for the United States had diminished following Biden’s election, suggesting that this perception of Biden as an ineffective leader might prompt China to pursue more aggressive actions concerning Taiwan.

While delivering his speech, Trump vehemently criticized President Biden, branding him as “the most incompetent and corrupt president we’ve ever had.” He stressed the significance of the upcoming general election for Republicans, claiming that the nation’s survival hinges on their victory.

Taiwan finds itself in a complex situation, having governed itself since 1949 when Chiang Kai-shek’s Kuomintang forces withdrew to the island after losing the Chinese civil war. Despite Taiwan’s independent administration, China regards it as one of its provinces, a stance backed by many countries, including Russia.

Formal diplomatic ties between the United States and Taiwan were severed in 1979, with the US establishing official relations with China. Nevertheless, the US maintains unofficial channels with Taiwan and continues to provide the island with weaponry. Tensions in the Taiwan Strait escalated following US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taipei in August 2022.