Taiwan on Saturday declared that it is a “sovereign and independent” nation, hours after United States President Donald Trump warned the island against making any formal declaration of independence.

In a statement issued by its foreign ministry, Taiwan said it is “a sovereign and independent democratic nation” and is not subordinate to the People’s Republic of China.

The ministry also noted that since President Trump returned to office, the United States had repeatedly reaffirmed that its policy toward Taiwan remains unchanged.

“Taiwan is a sovereign and independent democratic nation, and is not subordinate to the People’s Republic of China,” the statement said.

China considers Taiwan part of its territory and has consistently opposed any move toward formal independence by the self-ruled island.