Taiwan’s representative to the United States, Ambassador Alexander Yui, appeared on CBS’s Face the Nation on Sept. 27, 2026, to address the recent meeting between President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping. The interview covered the contents of that meeting, Taiwan’s relationship with the United States, and a heated exchange about World War II history.
Trump Said Taiwan Came Up, But Not Much
President Trump said Taiwan came up in his meeting with Xi but was not a major topic. Yui confirmed that point, noting that Taiwan did not appear in the official statements released by both sides after the meeting.
“He made it clear himself that it was mentioned, but it was not the main topic of discussion.”
Yui also noted that Taiwan did not appear in the papers detailing the meeting’s outcomes. He added that China’s position on the issue was described as “foundational,” but there was no response from the U.S. side.
Yui’s Readout Of The Visit
Yui provided his own account of the meeting’s context. He said the United States made its position clear during, before and after the visit.
“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–“
He pointed to the meetings between Secretary Marco Rubio and the foreign ministers of Japan and Korea at the U.N. General Assembly in New York. Those meetings, Yui said, reaffirmed support for peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, opposed coercion, and backed Taiwan’s participation in international organizations.
“There’s no change in Taiwan’s position for the United States.”
The Presidential Call That Never Happened
In May, Trump said he wanted to speak directly with Taiwan’s President Lai. Yui was noncommittal about whether that call ever took place.
“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.”
When Brennan pressed him on whether the communication reached the presidential level, Yui stuck to his earlier line: “Our communications are quite regular and quite open.”
What Deters Xi
The interview touched on the broader strategic picture. The unclassified U.S. intelligence community assessment says Chinese leaders do not currently plan to execute an invasion of Taiwan in 2027. But it also says Beijing will continue setting the conditions for eventual unification short of conflict.
Yui argued that the United States has made its position clear through diplomatic channels. He cited the meetings between Rubio and the foreign ministers of Japan and Korea at UNGA, where the United States made clear its support for peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, opposition to coercion, and backing for Taiwan’s participation in international organizations.
“There’s no change in Taiwan’s position for the United States.”
The Dispute Over WWII History
Much of the interview centered on a dispute about World War II history. Trump had praised the role of U.S. pilots who flew with Chinese forces during the war. Xi, meanwhile, had emphasized the role of the Chinese Communist Party in fighting Japan.
Yui disputed Xi’s framing. He argued that the Communist Party did not exist as a governing force during the war. Instead, it operated as guerrillas, and only became a recognized government after 1949.
“The communist regime did not exist until 1949. During the war, they were guerrillas, barely having any skirmishes against Japanese, if any. 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.”
Yui also displayed a patch bearing the insignia of the U.S. volunteer pilots who flew with Chinese forces, arguing that the symbolism showed American support for China during the war.
The Relationship In Practice
While Yui insisted that Taiwan’s position had not changed, the interview made clear that the relationship between the two sides remains far from straightforward. The lack of a presidential-level phone call between Trump and Lai, combined with the public disagreement over history, points to areas where the two governments are not fully aligned.
The interview also raised questions about how the relationship functions. Yui framed the relationship as close and open, but the absence of a direct line between the two presidents speaks for itself.
Key Facts Box
| Topic | Detail |
|---|---|
| Meeting held | Sept. 27, 2026 |
| Interview guest | Alexander Yui, Taiwan’s representative to the U.S. |
| Previous appearance | May, after Trump visited Beijing |
| Assessment on invasion | No plans for 2027, per U.S. intel |
| Diplomatic meetings | Secretary Rubio met with Japan and Korea ministers at UNGA |
The interview was notable for its candor and for the sharp disagreement over history. Yui’s refusal to confirm a presidential call between Trump and Lai, combined with his insistence that Taiwan’s position has not changed, leaves the relationship looking stable in name only.
See the video the story is built around at CBS News.
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