Xi presses Trump to halt Taiwan arms sales; US policy unchanged, Perdue says
Chinese President Xi Jinping pressed US President Donald Trump to halt arms sales to Taiwan during a summit in Washington, invoking a 1982 agreement. The US ambassador stated policy remains unchanged, with $11 billion in approved sales and a $14 billion package delayed. Taiwan officials thanked US support and urged prompt delivery, while China reiterated Taiwan is a "red line."
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US Policy on Taiwan Unchanged After Xi Visit, Ambassador Perdue Says
US Ambassador to China David Perdue stated that the United States' stance on Taiwan remains unchanged following Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Washington. In an interview on Fox News' 'Sunday Morning Futures,' Perdue said the US does not support Taiwanese independence nor coercion by China. He confirmed that the Trump administration has approved $11 billion in arms sales to Taiwan and is discussing further sales, rejecting the notion that Washington is limiting Taiwan's self-defense capabilities to appease Xi. During the visit, Xi urged the US to explicitly oppose Taiwanese independence, marking his first public call for a shift in Washington's decades-old policy. President Trump separately noted that he and Xi did not spend much time discussing Taiwan and that Xi 'very much understands' his feelings on the issue. Trump has delayed a planned $14 billion arms sale to Taiwan, previously calling it a 'very good negotiating chip.' Taiwan's representative to the US, Alexander Yu, emphasized the island's role as a key supplier of chips for AI demand, describing a 'symbiotic relationship' with the US and urging prompt delivery of weapons.
Read sourceTaiwan Official Says US Arms Sales Serve American Interests After Trump-Xi Summit
A senior Taiwanese diplomat, Deputy Foreign Minister Wu Chih-chung, stated on Saturday that US arms sales to Taiwan serve American national interests by protecting Taiwan's freedom and ensuring its semiconductor industry continues to supply the world. His comments followed the conclusion of a three-day summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, which failed to produce a major public breakthrough on the Taiwan issue. Beijing considers Taiwan part of its territory. Wu noted that the government is in 'continuous communication' with Washington regarding the summit. He expressed caution about potential further delays to a $14 billion arms sale package, given that Trump and Xi are expected to meet twice more this year. US Ambassador to China David Perdue reaffirmed that Trump's Taiwan policy, including arms sales under the Taiwan Relations Act, remains unchanged, and that the US does not support 'Taiwan independence'. China's People's Daily reiterated that Taiwan is a 'core interest' and a 'red line' in US-China relations.
Taiwan Thanks US for Support Ahead of Trump-Xi Summit, Reuters Reports
Taiwan's government expressed gratitude for U.S. support on Thursday, ahead of a summit between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington. China, which claims Taiwan as its own territory, reiterated that the issue is a 'red line' not to be crossed by the U.S. According to sources, Xi is expected to urge Trump to completely halt arms sales to Taiwan during their meeting. Taiwan's Executive Yuan spokesperson, Li Hui-zhi, stated that the government is closely monitoring the summit and maintains communication with the U.S. at all levels. She thanked the U.S. for its 'firm and clear support.' The Trump administration approved a record $11 billion arms sale to Taiwan in December, but a larger $14 billion package has been delayed. Trump previously paused that sale after a summit with Xi in Beijing, calling it a 'very good negotiating chip.' U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted that the government must balance broader needs when considering arms sales.
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Xi expected to press Trump to halt Taiwan arms sales under 1982 agreement: sources
According to sources cited by tradealpha, Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to press U.S. President Donald Trump to halt arms sales to Taiwan, invoking the 1982 U.S.-China communiqué. The report, attributed to unnamed sources, indicates that Xi will use the agreement as a basis to demand an end to U.S. weapons transfers to the self-governing island, which China claims as its own territory. The forecast highlights a key diplomatic pressure point ahead of potential high-level talks between the two leaders, with Taiwan arms sales remaining a persistent irritant in bilateral relations. The 1982 communiqué committed the U.S. to gradually reduce arms sales to Taiwan, though Washington has continued such sales, citing the Taiwan Relations Act. The outcome of any such discussion remains uncertain, as Trump has previously taken a transactional approach to foreign policy.
Xi expected to press Trump to halt Taiwan arms sales under 1982 agreement, sources say
According to an exclusive Reuters report citing sources, Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to press former U.S. President Donald Trump to halt arms sales to Taiwan during a potential summit, invoking a 1982 agreement. This issue is highlighted as a potential flashpoint that could upend fragile U.S.-China ties, as reported by The New York Times. The South China Morning Post notes a debate is flaring over whether Taiwan's ties with the U.S. are still 'rock solid' ahead of the meeting. However, a Semafor report suggests that Taiwan will be on the back burner during the Trump-Xi meeting, indicating a divergence in expectations regarding the prominence of the issue. The reports collectively point to the Taiwan arms sales issue as a central point of contention in the anticipated high-level diplomatic engagement.
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