Alexander Yui, Taiwan's representative to the United States, appeared on "Face the Nation" on September 27, 2026, discussing recent interactions between President Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping regarding Taiwan. Yui noted that while Taiwan was mentioned during their meeting, it did not become a central topic of discussion, contrary to previous assertions by both leaders. He emphasized that the U.S. maintained its stance on Taiwan's security and international participation without changes following the summit, despite China’s foundational concerns over the issue.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-27,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
US President Donald Trump met with Chinese President Xi Jinping, where Xi pressed Trump to adopt Beijing's stance against Taiwan independence, which Taiwan rejected outright. Meanwhile, Taiwan is crucial for global tech and economy due to its leading semiconductor production; TSMC alone produces the majority of advanced chips that power smartphones, AI systems, and more. As Stanford Hoover fellow Eyck Freymann noted, economic disruption from a conflict over Taiwan would be severe.
In unrelated developments, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian met with US media at the UN General Assembly, where he denied Iran's nuclear ambitions while offering to dilute its enriched uranium and allow inspections under international law. He also blamed Washington for ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) estimates that Iran has over 440 kilograms of uranium enriched up to 60%, raising concerns despite Pezeshkian's denials.
Taiwan's representative, Ambassador Alexander Yui, clarified during an interview on CBS’s "Face the Nation" that while Taiwan was discussed between Trump and Xi, it wasn't a major focus. He emphasized there has been no change in US policy towards Taiwan amid recent tensions with China.
Written for “Taiwan Iran Us Relations Midterms” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 386 other(s) covering the same event.
The following is the transcript of the interview with Alexander Yui, Taiwan's representative to the U.S., that aired on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" on Sept. 27, 2026.
asserted
that → follow → Sept.
We're joined now by the Taiwan representative to the United States, Ambassador Alexander Yui.
asserted
We → join → States
You were here in May after President Trump--
YUI: Yeah.
MARGARET BRENNAN: --visited Beijing, and we discussed that the two leaders did, at length, discuss Taiwan--
YUI: Yes, they did.
MARGARET BRENNAN: --according to President Trump at that time.
uncertain
they → --visite → time
When it came to this meeting, this past week, President Trump said Taiwan did come up with Xi, but, quote, "We didn't spend a lot of time talking about Taiwan."
asserted
We → come → Taiwan
Do you have any sense what context there was?
asserted
you → have → sense
How Taiwan was discussed?
asserted
Taiwan → discuss → ?
Have you been given any readout?
asserted
you → give → readout
Well, I mean, you've heard many people comment, including President Trump, comment on the question of Taiwan.
asserted
people → mean → Taiwan
He made it clear himself that it was mentioned, but it was not the main topic of discussion.
asserted
it → make → discussion
As a matter of fact, during the released statements by both sides on the deliverables or the achievements, Taiwan does not figure neither side of- of- of the- of the papers, so--
MARGARET BRENNAN:
asserted
Taiwan → release → papers
China did say this issue was foundational.
asserted
issue → say → ?
Well, it was foundational, but there was no reaction from the U.S. side.
asserted
it → be → side
Which, I think, again during May, President or General Secretary Xi gave an earful of Taiwan to President Trump when he was in Beijing.
uncertain
he → think → Beijing
But during this- this trip, the United States made it very clear that no change in position towards Taiwan, and I think they made it clear during and before and after the visit.
asserted
it → make → visit
Right before the visit, Secretary Rubio met with the foreign ministers of Japan and Korea in UNGA in New York, and they made it very clear that supported peace stability of the Taiwan Straits, no coercion, no status quo, and even supported Taiwan's meaningful participation in the- in the international organizations, as well as many other countries during UNGA, but so Taiwan is- there's no change in Taiwan's position for the United States.
asserted
Taiwan → meet → States
In May, President Trump said he wanted to speak with your president, President Lai.
uncertain
he → say → president
Did that call ever take place?
asserted
call → take → place
Well, I'll say that the communications between the two sides, between Thai and the United States is open, is regular, and it's very, very close, at different levels, and I'll just leave it at that.
asserted
I → say → that
Well, I'll just say that our communications are quite regular and quite open.
asserted
communications → say → ?
I want to ask you about the state of play with Taiwan and the tension with Beijing.
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I → want → Beijing
The unclassified U.S. intelligence community assessment says Chinese leaders do not currently plan to execute an invasion of Taiwan in 2027.
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leaders → say → 2027
But it also says Beijing will continue setting the conditions for eventual unification short of conflict.
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Beijing → say → conflict
What do you need from the U.S. to deter Xi Jinping?
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you → need → Jinping
Well, this comes back all the way to the- the mentions of United States President Xi- Donald Trump and the Secretary General of China Xi Jinping during their visits, during his visit, where both mentioned the- the historical factors between World War II or the war of Japanese invasion of China during the late '30s.
asserted
both → come → 30s
Which President Trump highlighted the historical actions, the heroic actions of United States flying tigers, but Secretary General Xi wanted to mention that it was- made a reference that it was the Chinese Communist Party that fought World War II or fought the Japanese--
MARGARET BRENNAN:
asserted
that → highlight → Japanese--
Let me show you this.
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me → let → this
This is the Flying Tigers using our- our flag.
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This → use → flag
This is the bloodshed by which every American pilot, when they flew on missions on the Flying Tigers, they wore on their- the back of their- of their jacket to show if they're down that- that people- Chinese people can help them.
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people → fly → them
That's what that- those words say.
asserted
words → say → what
Yeah, it says--
MARGARET BRENNAN:
asserted
it → says-- → ?
If this pilot goes down--
YUI: It says this–
MARGARET BRENNAN: --he is an American.
asserted
--he → go → this
--foreigner is here to help us in the war effort, please help them.
asserted
--foreigner → help → them
And the point you are making, as I understand it, is that the Chinese Communist Party was not running China during World War II.
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Party → make → II
It was actually the very same party that--
YUI: Exactly.
MARGARET BRENNAN: --eventually left the mainland and set up a government in Taiwan.
asserted
BRENNAN → leave → Taiwan
The communist regime did not exist until 1949.
asserted
regime → exist → 1949
During the war, they were guerrillas, barely having any skirmishes against Japanese, if any.
asserted
they → have → Japanese
But, and then after they became a People's Republic in '49, a few years afterwards they were fighting and killing American soldiers in the Korean War.
asserted
they → become → War
So let's- let's- let's put that into perspective.
asserted
's → let's- → perspective
Was that offensive to people in Taiwan when they heard the president of the United States not correct--
YUI: No, no--
MARGARET BRENNAN: --Xi Jinping, but accept that claim?
uncertain
president → hear → claim
President Trump was correct in saying that the- the Chinese and the Americans fought valiantly in the war, but that was- in the context that it was the- the Republic of China--
MARGARET BRENNAN: Right.
YUI: --government fighting alongside the--
MARGARET BRENNAN: --not the government led by--
YUI: Not the- not Xi Jinping.
asserted
it → say → the--
…and 18 more, not listed.
The Aporia
