Taiwan has breathed a sigh of relief after President Donald Trump avoided mentioning the island during his summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, alleviating fears that Washington might shift its longstanding policy. Observers had predicted that Trump, known for his transactional approach, could jettison support for Taiwan, which Beijing claims as a breakaway province.
Xi struck a firm tone before the meeting, declaring that 'Taiwan independence' and peace in the Taiwan Strait were 'incompatible'. He warned that mishandling the issue could push the US-China relationship into a 'very dangerous situation'. Analysts interpreted this as a clear signal that Taiwan remains Beijing's 'reddest red line'.
Taipei responded swiftly with a statement that 'the Republic of China and the People's Republic of China are not subordinate to one another'. However, experts suggest the island is quietly pleased with Trump's silence, as it avoids any departure from the US's strategic ambiguity policy, which neither endorses nor denies intervention in a conflict.
The meeting also touched on US arms sales to Taiwan, which Beijing consistently opposes. In December, the Trump administration approved an $11bn weapons package, and a further $14bn deal awaits sign-off. Taiwan's parliament recently passed a reduced defence budget to facilitate these purchases, adding pressure on Trump to proceed.
Speculation that Trump might trade Taiwan concessions for Chinese support on Iran appears unfounded. Xi's remarks suggest he prefers to handle the Taiwan issue directly between Taipei and Beijing, rather than treating it as a bargaining chip in US-China negotiations.
