Taiwan says Xi-Trump phone call helps stabilize regional security

JAKARTA - Taiwan welcomed US President Donald Trump's phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday, saying the conversation would help "stabilize" the region as China's military pressure on the island increased.

Taiwan's Deputy Foreign Minister Chen Ming-chi made the statement in an exclusive interview with AFP, hours after Chinese state media reported President Xi had called for "mutual respect" in strengthening ties with Washington, while issuing a warning about arms sales to Taiwan, Al Arabiya reported from AFP (5/2).

President Trump in a post on his Truth Social platform described the conversation as "very good", saying relations between Washington and Beijing were "very good".

"We are not too worried about all this phone communication," Chen told AFP.

"In fact, we believe it will contribute to stabilizing the situation, especially given the fact that China continues to escalate tensions in the Taiwan Strait and throughout this region," he said.

"I think we welcome such efforts to stabilize the security situation in the region," he said.