President Donald Trump stated on Friday that Chinese President Xi Jinping assured him China will refrain from taking action regarding Taiwan while Trump remains in office. The announcement, made during a press briefing, represents a significant claim regarding the ongoing tensions between China and Taiwan, and Beijing’s long-held desire to unify the self-governed island with mainland China.

Trump offered few specifics about the nature of the assurance, simply stating that Xi Jinping had “informed” him of the commitment. He did not provide details on when or how the conversation occurred, nor did he elaborate on any conditions attached to the promise. The President’s statement follows a period of heightened military activity in the Taiwan Strait, with increased Chinese air force incursions into Taiwan’s air defense identification zone.

Taiwan, officially the Republic of China, has its own democratically elected government and maintains a separate political and economic system from mainland China. Beijing views Taiwan as a renegade province that must eventually be reunified with the mainland, by force if necessary. The United States maintains a policy of “strategic ambiguity” regarding Taiwan, neither confirming nor denying whether it would intervene militarily if China were to attack the island.

The U.S. has increased its engagement with Taiwan in recent years, including high-level visits and arms sales, which have drawn criticism from Beijing. China has repeatedly expressed its opposition to any moves by the U.S. to strengthen ties with Taiwan, viewing them as interference in its internal affairs. The details of this alleged assurance from Xi Jinping remain unclear, and independent verification is currently unavailable.