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.
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that → follow → Sept.
We're joined now by the Taiwan representative to the United States, Ambassador Alexander Yui.
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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.
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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."
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We → come → Taiwan
Do you have any sense what context there was?
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you → have → sense
How Taiwan was discussed?
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Taiwan → discuss → ?
Have you been given any readout?
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you → give → readout
Well, I mean, you've heard many people comment, including President Trump, comment on the question of Taiwan.
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people → mean → Taiwan
He made it clear himself that it was mentioned, but it was not the main topic of discussion.
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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:
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Taiwan → release → papers
China did say this issue was foundational.
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issue → say → ?
Well, it was foundational, but there was no reaction from the U.S. side.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Taiwan → meet → States
In May, President Trump said he wanted to speak with your president, President Lai.
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he → say → president
Did that call ever take place?
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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.
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I → say → that
Well, I'll just say that our communications are quite regular and quite open.
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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.
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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:
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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.
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words → say → what
Yeah, it says--
MARGARET BRENNAN:
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If this pilot goes down--
YUI: It says this–
MARGARET BRENNAN: --he is an American.
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--he → go → this
--foreigner is here to help us in the war effort, please help them.
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--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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It was actually the very same party that--
YUI: Exactly.
MARGARET BRENNAN: --eventually left the mainland and set up a government in Taiwan.
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BRENNAN → leave → Taiwan
The communist regime did not exist until 1949.
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regime → exist → 1949
During the war, they were guerrillas, barely having any skirmishes against Japanese, if any.
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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.
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they → become → War
So let's- let's- let's put that into perspective.
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'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?
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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.
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…and 18 more, not listed.
The Aporia
