WASHINGTON – Trump said he would impose tariffs on China if they “go into Taiwan.” He told the Wall Street Journal, “If you go into Taiwan, I’m sorry to do this, I’m going to tax you, at 150% to 200%.”
When asked if he would use military force against China if they blockaded Taiwan, Trump said he wouldn’t need to because Chinese President Xi Jinping respects him. “I had a very strong relationship with him,” Trump explained. “He knows I’m a bit crazy.”
China claims Taiwan as its own territory, but Taiwan strongly disagrees. In the upcoming election on November 5, Trump is also talking about imposing tariffs of 10% to 20% on many imports and more than 60% on goods from China to help U.S. manufacturing.
During his presidency from 2017 to 2021, Trump’s tough stance on China led to a trade war. In his interview, he also mentioned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, claiming that if he were still president, Putin would not have invaded.