In a recent address, Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te asserted that 'Taiwan independence' means the island neither belongs to nor is subordinate to Beijing. He emphasized that only the Taiwanese people have the authority to determine their future, reinforcing the Democratic Progressive Party's stance that Taiwan is already a sovereign nation known as the Republic of China. Lai's comments came in the context of rising concerns regarding U.S. support for Taiwan after a summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Trump had previously indicated that the U.S. is not looking to encourage Taiwan's independence. Lai reiterated that Taiwan's sovereignty is non-negotiable and that the island has been integrated with the Republic of China for over 70 years. He also clarified that the term 'Taiwan independence' signifies that Taiwan is not a part of the People's Republic of China, stressing that the future of Taiwan must be decided by its own people. While Lai did not directly address questions about U.S. arms sales, the issue remains critical under the Taiwan Relations Act, which mandates U.S. support for Taiwan's defense.