Taiwan denounces Xi's comments to Trump as 'distortion of facts'

China claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, a position President Lai Ching-te and his administration reject.

Taiwan's government on Friday denounced Chinese President Xi Jinping's comments on the island's future to US President Donald Trump as a "distortion of the facts," saying only the Taiwanese people can decide their future.

China claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, a position President Lai Ching-te and his administration reject.

Xi told Trump in Washington on Thursday that China's position on safeguarding national "reunification" and territorial integrity is clear, and he hoped the US would adhere to the "correct position" of opposing Taiwan independence.

'Taiwan's future can only be determined by the Taiwanese people'

Xi's remarks represent "the consistent Chinese approach of distorting facts and unilaterally conveying its position and claims," Taiwan's foreign ministry said in a statement.

"Taiwan's sovereignty belongs to all the people of Taiwan. The Chinese Communist Party has no right to represent the Taiwanese people, and Taiwan's future can only be determined by the Taiwanese people through democratic means," it added.

The US is Taiwan's most important international backer and arms supplier despite the lack of formal diplomatic ties.

After meeting Xi in Beijing, Trump said in May that he was pausing a planned new arms sale to Taiwan, describing it as a good bargaining chip.

Taiwan's foreign ministry said China was the "true disruptor" of regional peace and stability, pointing to its military threats around the island and in the East and South China Seas.

Taiwan will continue to work closely with the United States and other like-minded partners to jointly safeguard peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, it added.