Taiwan said Saturday it is an ‘independent’ nation, hours after United States president Donald Trump warned the democratic island against declaring formal independence.

Taiwan ‘is a sovereign and independent democratic nation, and is not subordinate to the People’s Republic of China’, Taiwan’s foreign ministry said in a statement.

The ministry also insisted that US arms sales were part of Washington’s security commitment to Taiwan, after Trump flagged that he was considering the issue.

‘Regarding Taiwan-US arms sales, this is not only a US security commitment to Taiwan clearly stipulated in the Taiwan Relations Act, but also a form of joint deterrence against regional threats,’ the ministry said.

Taiwan’s statements came a day after Trump wrapped up a visit to Beijing where Chinese president Xi Jinping had pressed him not to support the self-ruling island, which China claims is part of its territory.