Trump Says Taiwan is 'Up to' Xi Jinping: Distancing Taiwan from Venezuela Action

He's sent troops to Venezuela, but says Taiwan's fate is 'up to' Xi Jinping. U.S. President Donald Trump has just dropped a bombshell regarding the future of the self-ruled island.

Trump Taiwan Xi Jinping 2026: A New Security Logic

In an interview with The New York Times published on January 8, 2026, Trump sought to draw a sharp distinction between Washington's recent military operations in South America and its stance on Taiwan. He rejected the idea that the audacious operation targeting Nicolas Maduro sets any precedent for Beijing's cross-strait ambitions.

Trump's comments suggest that he doesn't view Taiwan through the same lens as the 'direct threat' he claims the Maduro government posed to the United States. By handing over the initiative to Xi Jinping, the President is signaling a potential retreat from the decades-long policy of strategic ambiguity.

Drawing the Line with Venezuela

Critics are already pointing out the paradox: while the U.S. acts decisively in its own backyard, it seems to be offering China a green light in the Pacific. This selective interventionism marks a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy under the Trump administration's second or continued influence.