It’s a symptom of modern life for many people

A surgeon has shared one of the worst things you can do for your joints every day. When people think about protecting their joints, they often assume the answer is extreme exercise, strict diets or expensive supplements.

But according to cartilage and joint preservation specialist Professor Paul Lee, one of the worst things many people are doing to their joints every day is sitting still for hours at a time. Modern office life, long commutes and working from home have dramatically changed how people move throughout the day.

Many now spend eight, 10 or even 12 hours largely stationary, often without realising the effect this can quietly have on their joints over time. Professor Lee said the issue is not about blaming people or calling them lazy – he believes that kind of messaging is completely unhelpful.

He added: “We should not make people feel guilty for modern working patterns. Humans were simply not designed to stay still for 10 hours a day. Modern office life may be starving our joints quietly. Not because people are lazy, but because the body evolved around regular low-level movement.”

Unlike muscles, cartilage behaves very differently biologically.

Professor Lee continued: “Cartilage has no direct blood supply; it feeds from joint fluid. If we sit still all day, that fluid circulation slows down.

“Cartilage behaves more like a sponge than a muscle. Movement helps compress and release the joint, allowing nutrients to circulate.”

This means joints rely heavily on regular and gentle movement to stay biologically active and healthy. Professor Lee stressed that this does not mean people suddenly need to become fitness fanatics.

He added: “You do not need to become a marathon runner. But your joints do need movement to stay biologically active.”

In many cases, simply standing up more regularly throughout the day could help.

Professor Lee continued: “Your joints are biologically designed for gentle movement. Standing up regularly may help ‘feed’ the cartilage cells fresh nutrients and energy.”

The message around joint health has become too extreme and overly simplistic, he added. Many people assume they are either “healthy” because they exercise intensely a few times a week or “unhealthy” because they sit at a desk job.

But joint biology is often more subtle than that. Sitting at your desk all day is not necessarily damaging in itself and, in some cases, may even temporarily protect cartilage from excessive physical stress or impact.

The problem is prolonged stillness without enough low-level movement throughout the day. Professor Lee said people should stop thinking about exercise only in terms of gym sessions and instead focus more on how regularly they move.

He added: “The body responds very well to small, consistent movement. The issue is not whether somebody runs marathons. The issue is whether the joints are being stimulated often enough to maintain healthy biological function.”

Indie game Mixtape has become one of the most talked about games of the year, but a reader agues that while it doesn’t deserve the hate it’s had it is a flawed experience.

After completing Mixtape I’ve got mixed feelings about it, feelings that convey the critics’ adulation of it and feelings representative of the hateful audience reaction towards it. Here I’ll impart my feelings for people to chew over in the comments.

When I first saw the trailer for Mixtape, I was excited about what it offered because to me it looked like a rad and indie skating adventure, and I was eager to see what it was all about. I think Mixtape has cool vibes, and I think those vibes are nailed beautifully in the game. I also commend how Mixtape expresses itself and it does it in a freeing and existentialist way.

Obviously, no spoilers here, but there are happenings and activities in Mixtape you’ll never see in modern triple-A games, and I really appreciate the effort the game makes to be relaxing and expressive, and that its art style and animation carry its motif along seamlessly.

Sure, some will bemoan that Mixtape doesn’t have a lot of game inside of itself, but Mixtape is designed to tell a story with quirky interactive segments interspersed along the way. Mixtape is a tad like 2021’s Last Stop, from Variable State and Annapurna Interactive, and that was similarly derided for not containing much gameplay – but it was still enjoyable.

Furthermore, the gameplay bits are very imaginative too, they’re very dreamy and hallucinogenic, and some parts are legitimately enjoyable and unexpected.

The selection of tunes in Mixtape underpins the vibes of each gameplay segment very well. I like the soundtrack despite not knowing many of the tunes in the game. In fact, I only knew about two songs when they were introduced, but Mixtape has introduced me to more great hits from yesteryear, and that’s a neat thing to appreciate.

As for what I don’t like, well it involves tone and how I feel its softness counteracts the subversiveness of the game somewhat, and that its lead characters don’t convince me that they are hoodlums enough.

As far as the music is concerned, I do like the songs, but Mixtape can fall into the trap of nostalgia bait, not only because of how it pushes its retro soundtrack on you, but in the way it pushes loads of retro gadgets and attitudes that were prevalent in the 90s in front of you, like a school kid showing you all their new toys in an attempt to make you jealous.

In addition, I can’t take the three main characters seriously as rebels. I think the devs were trying to strike a balance between teenaged rebelliousness with a gentleness and understanding, but it can seem a bit camp whilst at the same time trying to be cool. They do come up with some cool jokes though, which shows they do have some moxie.

I give kudos to the developers for making the game they wanted to make despite the hate and backlash. Frankly, it is oxymoronic to point out that a game full of love is incurring so much hate from parts of the gaming community, but the haters won’t stop these kinds of games from getting made. We could do with games that are as expressive as Mixtape, but maybe with more of an edge. Love it or hate it, Mixtape leaves an impression, and people are talking about it, so it’s definitely doing something right.

By reader James Davie

The reader’s features do not necessarily represent the views of GameCentral or Metro.

You can submit your own 500 to 600-word reader feature at any time, which if used will be published in the next appropriate weekend slot.

Just contact us at gamecentral@metro.co.uk or use our Submit Stuff page and you won’t need to send an email.

MORE: Why I’ve never liked playing handheld video game consoles – Reader’s Feature

MORE: I won’t buy a PS6 unless Sony bring back lost feature from the PS4 – Reader’s Feature

MORE: This year is make or break for Nintendo and I’m not sure they realise – Reader’s Feature

Airports in Japan, China, India, the UAE, Singapore and Thailand have all been impacted, with major airlines cancelling 366 flights and delaying a further 2,949 services.

Hundreds of flights have been axed this weekend as severe weather, airspace chaos and growing operational strain cause widespread disruption.

Airports across Japan, China, India, the UAE, Singapore and Thailand have all been hit, with airlines scrapping 366 flights and delaying a further 2,949 services, according to aviation tracking data reported by Travel and Tour World.

Major carriers affected include China Eastern Airlines, IndiGo, AirAsia and Etihad Airways, with the disruption centred on major transit hubs such as Tokyo Haneda Airport, Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport, Kempegowda International Airport, Singapore Changi Airport and Zayed International Airport.

Industry experts say the chaos is being fuelled by a mix of heavy storms battering parts of Asia, congestion at key airports and the ongoing impact of Middle East airspace restrictions, which have forced airlines to reroute planes and shoulder significantly higher fuel bills.

The broader aviation sector is also grappling with the fallout from geopolitical tensions linked to the conflict involving Iran, which has resulted in airspace closures and extended flight times on major Europe-Asia routes.

It has been reported this week that a number of carriers have already started cutting back international schedules due to spiralling operating costs. Air India has confirmed temporary reductions to several long-haul services between June and August, attributing the move to fuel pressures and operational challenges stemming from diversions around restricted airspace.

Despite the turbulence affecting much of the region, Singapore Airlines has revealed plans to boost capacity on certain routes as passengers increasingly opt for direct Asia-Europe flights that bypass Middle Eastern stopovers.

Australian government travel guidance has also cautioned travellers to anticipate continued disruption related to the conflict, including cancellations, delays and fuel supply problems impacting global aviation networks.

Passengers flying through major Asian hubs this week have been advised to verify flight status updates before departing for the airport, with airlines cautioning that additional schedule alterations remain likely should weather patterns and geopolitical disruption persist.

Here’s how the city and county keep turning up in murder mysteries and gritty detective series – often without being named on screen.

Durham has quietly become a go‑to location for crime drama producers looking for atmospheric streets, river views and dramatic skylines.

Its cathedral and castle, tight back lanes and old bridges give directors instant depth for everything from moody detective walk‑and‑talks to big set‑piece confrontations.

Beyond the city, County Durham’s villages, old industrial sites, moorland and coast offer the kind of varied landscapes crime series love for body finds, chase scenes and tense stand‑offs.

Crime dramas that have filmed in and around Durham

Inspector George Gently

BBC drama Inspector George Gently is one of the clearest examples of a crime series using Durham itself on screen.

Filming took place at Durham Cathedral, Durham Castle and across the city, including locations such as Crossgate, Prebends Bridge, Allergate and Old Elvet Bridge, to recreate a 1960s North East setting.

Those familiar streets and river views helped tell stories about changing communities, policing and crime, even when individual locations were given fictional names.

(Image: ARCHIVE)

Vera

ITV’s long‑running crime drama Vera roams across the North East, and County Durham has featured alongside Northumberland and Tyneside.

The series has used real North East towns and coastal spots, with County Durham locations appearing as part of the patch DCI Vera Stanhope investigates.

Market squares, estates and stretches of the Durham Heritage Coast have stood in for fictional communities dealing with murders and long‑buried secrets.

Why producers keep coming back to Durham for crime dramas. (Image: ITV)

Wire in the Blood

Psychological crime series Wire in the Blood was set in a fictional northern city but filmed extensively in the North East.

North East itineraries and film‑location guides list it alongside other productions that have used regional streets, industrial backdrops and rural landscapes to create its unsettling atmosphere.

For viewers, that means flashes of recognisable bridges, lanes and countryside in among its darker storylines.

(Image: PA MEDIA)

I Fought the Law

Newer BBC crime drama I Fought the Law is part of a wave of productions backed in the North East, with filming of the dramatisation of the true story of Ann Ming taking place across the region.

Promotional material highlights North East locations and companies involved in bringing the story to screen.

While individual scenes may move between different towns and cities, the overall look is rooted in the landscapes and streets of the region.

(Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

Durham city: cathedrals, cobbles and riverside scenes

Crime dramas love Durham’s mix of grandeur and grit.

Cathedral courtyards, palace greens and narrow streets leading down towards the river make striking backdrops when detectives are hunting suspects or piecing together clues.

Wide shots from the bridges or opposite banks give immediately recognisable skylines that establish a “northern city” feel in a single frame.

Productions also use ordinary streets, ginnels and residential areas away from the historic core when they need believable homes, student digs or witness addresses.

Because everything is close together, crews can film scenes that feel like they’re in several different places without moving far, which makes the city attractive when budgets and schedules are tight.

(Image: UGC)

County Durham landscapes in crime stories

The wider county gives crime dramas a huge range of looks within a short drive of the city.

Former mining villages, small market towns, industrial estates and rural lanes have all been used as stand‑ins for fictional communities dealing with serious crimes.

Moorland, forests and rivers are ideal for body‑discovery scenes, search parties and tense confrontations away from the city lights.

Coastal stretches and clifftops within County Durham also turn up when series want dramatic viewpoints or brooding seascapes.

These locations help writers and directors balance intimate, character‑driven scenes with sweeping shots that show the wider world their stories sit in.

Why crime dramas keep coming back to Durham

For producers, Durham offers a lot of variety in a compact space.

They can film everything from police station exteriors and suspects’ homes to posh dinner scenes and quiet back‑street meetings without leaving the city and its immediate surroundings.

The combination of historic buildings, lived‑in housing and nearby countryside means a single shoot can cover multiple fictional settings.

Over time, positive word‑of‑mouth between production teams has helped cement Durham and County Durham as reliable filming spots.

Local authorities, cathedral staff and location managers have gained experience in working with drama crews, which makes it easier for new series to choose the area for key episodes.

How to spot Durham in your favourite crime series

If you’re watching a crime drama set “somewhere in the North” and think it looks familiar, there are a few signs it might be Durham.

Look out for cathedral towers, cloisters and palace greens in the background of interviews and emotional scenes, or for steep streets and bridges over a winding river.

In the countryside, keep an eye open for stone‑built villages, viaducts and moorland that match places you know from days out.

End credits sometimes thank local councils, cathedrals or location offices, which is another clue that scenes were shot in the city or nearby.

Fan sites and social media groups often share behind‑the‑scenes pictures when crews have been spotted, helping viewers connect particular episodes to real streets and landmarks.

“Get Martin O’Neill a statue. I’d love to see him stay for another season.”

Celtic fans have reacted to the side clinching five-in-a-row after a dramatic 3-1 win over Hearts, with some clambering for Martin O’Neil to receive a statue.

The game could have seen the Jambos secure the title after 66 years, but instead, it’s boss Martin O’Neill who pulled off a major comeback after the club’s poor start to the season. Derek McInnes’ side were in the lead come the 42nd minute after a goal from captain Lawrence Shankland. But it didn’t last long after Celtic’s Arne Engels scored a penalty before half-time.

Maeda scored a goal during the 86th minute, which went to VAR for possible offside. After a nervous wait, Robertson gave the goal. With around two minutes left, Hearts sent their goalie forward to pack the Celtic box for a set-piece. But the free-kick was cleared, allowing Callum Osmand to run the length of the pitch and score a cool-as-you-like third goal, making Celtic champions.

It’s O’Neill’s fourth title win after victories in 2001, 2002 and 2004. And the Celtic fans who spoke to our sister title Glasgow Live couldn’t be happier after leaving the match.

Shaun Tait, 17, from Ayr, said: “Champions do as champions do. We get the win. It’s been a mental season. Get Martin O’Neill a statue. I’d love to see him stay for another season.”

Nicola McFarland, 40, and Chloe, 13, from Kelvindale, told how the game was a special moment for her and her daughter: “The atmosphere was incredible. I think we had our scarves over our faces for half of the game because it was so nervous.

“The second half was something else. The game summed up the whole season. But what a way to end it.

“This is my daughter’s first time seeing us lift a trophy, so it’s very special.”

Joe Duffy, 43, who drove up from Peterborough despite not having a ticket to the game, said: “I didn’t see us winning the game as the game went on. But we always give that extra.

“It’s phenomenal how O’Neil has got us playing. We found our way to win and that has been the story of the season. The comeback has been phenomenal this season.”

Mark Thompson, 37, from Ardrossan, told how it had been an ’emotional season‘, he said: “It’s been a really difficult season. It’s been all over the place.

“It wasn’t pretty or easy to watch, but seeing us win was euphoric and such a relief. O’Neill is the best manager of my lifetime. When I got into Celtic, he was the pinnacle of it. It’s phenomenal to see him win it again and close this difficult season.”

Mark Macleod, 36, from Stornaway, said: “It’s been an unbelievable week. European atmosphere at a domestic game. Everyone, keep believing. It’s the first season that my friends have had season tickets and it looked gloomy at times.

“But it was worth it at the end. To see the team with the trophy was unbelievable.”

John, 51, and Yvonne, 52, from Wick added: “It was mental. The last five minutes were unbelievable.”

Advertisement

As fans swarm Glasgow’s Trongate area, Police Scotland announced a number of roads are closed as a result. Officers say the Gallowgate is closed between Watson Street and High Street. London Road is also closed between Glasgow Cross and James Morrison Street.

However, High Street and Saltmarket remain open. The public is being asked to avoid the Trongate area where possible.

Police say a ‘comprehensive policing is in place which is focused on ensuring public safety and minimising disruption to the public’. They are also warning that Glasgow City Centre will be much busier than normal and to plan travel in advance.

Get more Daily Record exclusives by signing up for free to Google’s preferred sources. Click HERE

Josh Newton, a 29-year-old cake artist from Hartlepool, launched his business Cake King in 2014 after discovering a talent for cake decorating while helping his mam and grandma with a cousin’s birthday cake.

Mr Newton specialises in sculpted 3D cakes, hyperrealistic cakes, and what he calls “full-on extreme builds”, often making food-shaped, car-themed, and movie-themed cakes that make people stop and stare.

Josh’s cake at Teesside Airport for the launch of a new route (Image: Cake King Hartlepool)

One of his proudest moments was working with Teesside Airport, where one of his cakes was displayed on the runway before take-off of a new flight route.

He said: “That one will stay with me forever.”

Josh has also created other airline-themed cakes for the airport over the years.

His business officially turns 13 in 2026, and Mr Newton plans to mark the occasion with a month-long celebration starting at the end of May.

One of Josh’s cake creations (Image: Cake King Hartlepool)

Josh said: “I’ve never really celebrated Cake King’s birthday – probably because I’m always busy celebrating everyone else’s.

“But this year, Cake King turns 13 in June, and we’re celebrating for a full month with a new social media strategy, a YouTube channel, competitions to win extreme cakes and treat boxes, and a brand-new monthly treat box filled with Cake King bakes so everyone can get a taste of the magic.”

Despite creating cakes for clients across the UK, USA, Spain, and Germany, every bake begins in his kitchen in Hartlepool.

A birthday fish & chips cake made by Josh (Image: Cake King Hartlepool)

Mr Newton said: “I’m ridiculously proud that Cake King has stayed rooted in Hartlepool, even while I’m creating cakes for clients in the UK and across the globe.

“This month especially has felt like a turning point.

“For years I felt like the business wasn’t really moving, but recently everything has shifted – new ideas, new energy, new direction.”

(Image: Cake King Hartlepool)

Part of that change has included updating all of his cake recipes, which he said has “given the business a whole new spark.”

Looking ahead to the anniversary, Mr Newton sees it as more than a milestone.

He said: “Even though it’s technically a 13th birthday celebration, it feels more like the start of something new.

“I’m excited to open the doors wider than ever before and bring people along for the journey, especially those who’ve supported me from the very beginning.”

More than 7,000 shoplifting offences were recorded by police in Cambridgeshire in 2025

Retail theft in Cambridgeshire has soared by 70% in the last four years. Cambridge specifically has one of the highest crime rates in the country for shoplifting, according to data from the Home Office.

Police in Cambridgeshire recorded 6,046 shoplifting crimes in 2022. That figure jumped by around 1,700 offences the following year, and by 1,300 offences again in 2024.

Last year, police recorded 7,358 shoplifting offences, which was similar to 2024 but 70% higher than in 2022, the first full year after lockdown, when remaining Covid-19 restrictions were lifted. The figure was also 60% higher than in 2019, the last full year before the pandemic.

Last year, shoplifting was most evident in Cambridge, where, despite a 15% fall since 2024, police recorded 2,373 offences. In Peterborough, shop theft increased by 14% to 2,379 crimes.

But separate figures show that Cambridge has a far bigger issue with shoplifting. Crime rates are calculated by dividing the number of offences by the population, and are generally considered the fairest way to compare crime across areas of wildly different sizes.

They show that Cambridge has a crime rate of 16 shoplifting offences per 1,000 residents. That’s the second-highest rate in the East of England after Norwich (18 per 1,000 residents), and the 10th highest rate in England and Wales.

Peterborough has the second-highest rate in Cambridgeshire, with 11 crimes per 1,000 residents. That is also the joint fourth-highest in the East of England and the joint 42nd-highest in the country.

You can use our map to check the shoplifting crime rates in your area and compare them to the rest of the country.

A Cambridgeshire Police spokesperson said the force has a ‘dedicated’ officer who works tirelessly across the county, including training shop staff about retail crime and the importance of reporting every incident to the police.

They continued: “These figures give us a reflection of crime in a particular area, and it’s pleasing to see figures for Cambridge and Peterborough illustrating the increased confidence shop staff now have to report incidents. Our crime training with stores means we can now share intelligence, enabling us to make arrests across the county.

“For repeat offenders we are applying for criminal behaviour orders, preventing them from entering areas where they have previously committed crime. The formation of the spree offender teams has also increased the number of positive outcomes for retail crime and is testament to this ongoing good work – they currently have a detection rate of over 80%.

“We take all reports of crime seriously and continue to work tirelessly to keep shoplifting and other retail crime down as much as possible.“

Shoplifting was first described as an “epidemic” in 2023 by Dame Sharon White, the chair of John Lewis Partnership, and since then, crime and its cost to retailers has spiralled. The British Retail Consortium (BRC) said retailers footed an “eye-watering” £4.2 billion bill from crime in 2024, including £2.2bn lost to shoplifting, and £1.8bn spent on crime prevention measures.

Last month, the Crime and Policing Bill became law. The Bill has removed the £200 “low-value” threshold, meaning theft of goods below that value is no longer a summary-only offence dealt with by magistrates, which created a perception that many shoplifters were getting off lightly. The Bill has also created a new standalone offence of assaulting a retail worker.

Andrew Goodacre, CEO of Bira (the British Independent Retailers Association), said: “We need to recognise that real progress has been made over the past 12 months. There has been a better response from police, more arrests, more community officers on the ground, and a much sharper focus on retail crime. That matters, and it should be acknowledged.

“However, the level of crime remains high and unacceptable. Half a million shoplifting offences in a single year is not a figure any of us should be satisfied with. We have to maintain focus and momentum, and we would urge every retailer to remain vigilant and to report every single incident. That reporting culture is what drives the data, and the data is what drives the political will to act.”

Donald Trump has lashed out at his longtime supporter Lauren Boebert after the Republican congresswoman backed the re-election of Kentucky representative Thomas Massie, who has publicly broken with the president over the Iran war and Jeffrey Epstein investigations.

“Is anyone interested in running against Weak Minded Lauren Boebert in Colorado’s Fourth Congressional District?” the president fumed Saturday on Truth Social.

He called her a “Carpetbagger” who is “campaigning for the Worst ‘Republican’ Congressman in the History of our Country.”

The president’s tirade follows Boebert’s support for the Kentucky Republican ahead of the state’s primary election on Tuesday. She shared a picture of the pair of them on X, saying Massie “loves America and is fighting to save it.”

Massie has said Tuesday’s election serves as a “national referendum” on Trump’s influence in his second term and whether the Republican Party can survive without the president. But Boebert appeared unfazed by the president’s Truth Social posts.

“Yes, I saw the President’s post. No, I’m not mad or offended. I knew the risks when I agreed to stand by my friend Thomas Massie,” she wrote on X.

“I was, and will be, America First, America Always, and MAGA. Onward,” she added.

Trump has launched an aggressive effort to unseat Massie by endorsing his opponent Ed Gallrein, a Navy seal and farmer who the president has described as “a true American Patriot.”

In a post on X one day earlier, Boebert shared a picture of herself with Trump, who she has called a “friend.”

“He’s put his life on the line to save this great country,” she wrote. “I support both of these men. I’ve worked with both to preserve freedom and liberty. And if that makes you angry, bless your heart.”

Trump endorsed Boebert’s re-election in 2025, calling the Colorado congresswoman a “MAGA warrior” and “an America First Patriot.”

“Lauren Boebert has my Complete and Total Endorsement for Re-Election — SHE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!” he wrote on Truth Social last year.

It marked the fourth election cycle that Boebert won the president’s endorsement.

But her support for Massie appears to have been enough to break their years-long alliance.

“Even though I long ago endorsed Boebert, if the right person came along, it would be my Honor to withdraw that Endorsement, and endorse a good and proper alternative. Just announce your candidacy and I will be there for you!” Trump wrote on Saturday.

The filing deadline for entering Colorado’s congressional primaries was back in March, however. It’s too late for a Trump-backed candidate to enter the race.

That election is June 30.

Massie has been an outspoken critic of Trump for months, often teaming up with Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna on legislation that has challenged Trump’s agenda.

The pair were responsible for the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which forced the full release of unclassified documents relating to the late sex offender.

They have also supported the Iran Wars Power Resolution, which would prohibit U.S. troops from engaging in hostilities in Iran without congressional authorization.

Recent comments by U.S. President Donald Trump that arms sales to Taiwan are a “very good negotiating chip” in the United States’ dealings with China are heightening anxieties on the island democracy that Beijing claims as its own.

Trump made the comment in a Fox News interview with Bret Baier that aired right after the U.S. president wrapped up a high-stakes visit to China on Friday.

China sees Taiwan as a breakaway province, to be retaken by force if necessary. The U.S., like all countries that have formal ties with Beijing, doesn’t recognize Taiwan as a country but has been the island’s strongest backer and arms supplier.

Trump is now suggesting that is open to negotiation.

Asked if he would approve a $14 billion arms package to Taiwan that has been held up for months, Trump said that’s up to China.

“I’m holding that in abeyance and it depends on China,” he said. “It’s a very good negotiating chip for us, frankly. It’s a lot of weapons.”

The U.S. is bound by its own laws to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself and sees all threats to the island as a matter of grave concern.

By conditioning U.S. arms sales to Taiwan on his negotiations with China, Trump may play into one the island’s “nightmare scenarios,” said William Yang, a Northeast Asia senior analyst for International Crisis Group: that Taiwan, instead of being at the negotiating table, is on the menu.

Trump and the U.S. Congress already approved in December a separate $11 billion arms sales package to Taiwan. Beijing reacted furiously by staging live fire drills around the island.

China warned of ‘clashes and even conflicts’ over Taiwan

China has framed Taiwan as “the most important issue in China-U.S. relations” during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s recent summit with Trump. The visit is to be followed next week by a trip by Russian President Vladimir Putin to Beijing.

In one of his strongest statements to date, Xi on Thursday warned Trump of “clashes and even conflicts” if the issue of Taiwan is not handled properly.

Taiwan’s presidential office on Saturday sought to smooth over the tensions by highlighting “that the consistent U.S. policy and position toward Taiwan remain unchanged.”

“The Republic of China is a sovereign, independent, democratic country; this is self-evident, and Beijing’s claims are therefore without merit,” said Presidential Office Spokesperson Karen Kuo, referring to Taiwan’s official name. She added that the island remains grateful to Trump for his support and stressed that U.S. arms sales to Taiwan are stipulated by law.

Trump wants Taiwan’s microchip makers to move to the U.S.

Another statement that raised concerns on the island was Trump’s call for Taiwan’s microchip sector — the world’s largest and most advanced — to pick up and move to the U.S.

“I’d like to see everybody making chips over in Taiwan come into America,” Trump told Fox News, describing such a move as “the greatest thing you can do.”

Trump has long pressed Taiwanese chipmakers, which produce more than 90% of the world’s most advanced chips, which are used for artificial intelligence, smartphones and military equipment, to base some of their production in the U.S.

Taiwan’s leading chipmaker, TSMC, has committed an investment of $165 billion in a mega-campus in Arizona. The island’s government, in a sweeping trade agreement with the U.S. earlier this year, pledged $250 billion in investment in the U.S. microchip sector, which included TSMC’s previous commitment.

Trump also reiterated older accusations that Taiwan “stole” its chipmaking sector from the U.S. decades ago.