Beijing, May 16 -- US President Donald Trump has signalled a potential shift in Washington's approach towards Taiwan following his two-day "high-stakes" visit to China, stating that the United States is not looking to "travel 9,500 miles to fight a war" over Taiwan's independence, raising questions about the future of America's long-standing policy of strategic ambiguity.

Speaking during an interview with Fox News following his visit, Trump explicitly cautioned Taiwan against pursuing formal independence, framing the island's defence as a staggering logistical and military challenge for the United States.

"I'm not looking to have somebody go independent and we're supposed to travel 9,500 miles to fight a war. I'm not looking for that. I...