Taiwan's president says island 'will never be sacrificed or traded' in stern rebuke of China

Thanking the U.S. support and showing defiance against China's intentions, Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te issued a stern five-point message of independence Sunday, rebuking China as "the root cause of regional instability" and "the destruction of regional peace."

"Taiwan will never be sacrificed or traded."

Trump remains mum on new weapons sales to Taiwan, but stressed the U.S. was "not looking to have somebody say, 'Let's go independent because the United States is backing us'."

"This is not only a U.S. security commitment to Taiwan, but also the most important deterrent force over the years against actions that undermine regional peace and stability," he wrote.

Lai's five-point Facebook message was a stern rejection of China's claims of control over Taiwan, and a call for Trump's self-defense assistance:

"Taiwan will continue to shoulder the responsibility of improving its self-defense capabilities, firmly defend democracy and freedom, maintain the status quo with neither arrogance nor submission, and make active contributions to regional and global peace and prosperity."

Reuters contributed to this report.