In an exclusive interview with Fox News at the end of the summit, Trump made Washington's stance clear regarding the self-governing island, which China claims as part of its territory.

“I'm not looking to have somebody go independent,” Trump said, reiterating that US policy on the matter has not changed.

The US President emphasized a desire to de-escalate regional tensions and avoid a distant military conflict.

“You know, we're supposed to travel 9,500 miles (15,289km) to fight a war. I'm not looking for that. I want them to cool down. I want China to cool down,” Trump stated.

Trump suggested that maintaining the current status quo remains the safest path forward for all parties involved.

“We're not looking to have wars, and if you kept it the way it is, I think China's going to be OK with that. But we're not looking to have somebody say, 'Let's go independent because the United States is backing us.'“

On his flight back to Washington, Trump told reporters that he and Xi had spoken “a lot” about the island, though he declined to discuss whether the US would defend it.

Trump previously stated he had “made no commitment either way” about Taiwan, which Beijing has not ruled out taking by force.

According to Trump, Xi “feels very strongly” about the island and “doesn't want to see a movement for independence”.

Chinese state media reported that Xi issued a warning during the bilateral talks.

“The Taiwan question is the most important issue in China-US relations,” Xi warned, adding: “If mishandled, the two nations could collide or even come into conflict.”

Asked if he foresaw a literal conflict with China over Taiwan, Trump dismissed the notion, according to BBC report.

“No, I don't think so. I think we'll be fine. [Xi] doesn't want to see a war.”

Late last year, the Trump administration announced an $11bn ($8bn) package of weapons to be sold to Taiwan, including advanced rocket launchers and a variety of missiles. The deal was swiftly condemned by Beijing, media report cited.

Trump revealed that he and Xi discussed the arms package “in great detail” and noted he would soon decide whether the sale could go ahead.

“I'm going to say I have to speak to the person that right now is, you know, you know who he is, that's running Taiwan,” Trump added.

The US does not maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, though it holds substantial unofficial relations. US presidents do not traditionally speak directly to Taiwan's leader, and doing so would likely trigger severe backlash from Beijing, which considers Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te a separatist.

On Saturday, Taiwan Deputy Foreign Minister Chen Ming-chi stated that Taiwan would need to clarify the exact meaning of Trump's remarks. However, Chen noted that US arms sales to Taiwan are legally confirmed under US law.

“Taiwan-US arms sales have always been a cornerstone of regional peace and stability,” Chen added.

A spokesperson for President Lai, quoted by Reuters news agency, echoed those remarks, stating that American arms sales are part of the “US security commitment” to Taiwan and “serve as a shared deterrent against regional threats.”