"Trump's public statement about being willing to negotiate with Beijing on Taiwan is akin to waving a red flag in front of a bull," said Ryan Hass, director of the China Center at the Brookings Institution.
Following President Donald Trump's remarks during his recent visit to China, where he referred to arms sales to Taiwan as a "very good negotiating chip," international attention has intensified. His comments suggest that arms sales to Taiwan could be leveraged in future negotiations with China.
On May 17, Reuters reported that Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen emphasized on Facebook that "peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait can never be sacrificed or traded away," asserting that Taiwan will not abandon its sovereignty, dignity, or democratic way of life under external pressure. She also pointed out that arms sales to Taiwan are based on the Taiwan Relations Act established after the U.S.-China normalization in 1979, which has served as a strong deterrent for decades.
China has ramped up its rhetoric against Taiwan through state media. The Global Times stated, "Trump's remarks reaffirm that the U.S. will not indefinitely support 'Taiwan independence' as some have dreamed," adding that Trump emphasized the U.S. would not fight a war for Taiwan, despite being 9,500 miles away. The publication also noted that the pro-China Kuomintang's Vice Chairman, Xiao Xuchuan, analyzed that Trump's comments could politically impact President Tsai.
Amid rising tensions, some close aides to the Trump administration have expressed concerns about the possibility of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan within the next five years, Axios reported. Although China welcomed Trump with elaborate ceremonies, the underlying message is that China views itself as an equal superpower to the U.S. and asserts that Taiwan belongs to China. One aide remarked that the likelihood of Taiwan coming to the U.S.-China negotiation table has increased, stating, "The semiconductor supply chain will not reach self-sufficiency in the U.S., and there is no issue more critical to the economy than this."
As the controversy deepens, the U.S. government appears to be working to clarify its stance. According to Politico, U.S. Trade Representative Jamie Greer emphasized in an interview with ABC that there is no change in U.S. policy toward Taiwan. Greer stated, "The president is focused on confirming that nothing is happening in the Taiwan Strait," adding that Trump will decide the timing and execution of arms sales to Taiwan.
According to the New York Times, the Taiwanese government has been awaiting White House approval to import $14 billion worth of U.S. weapons, including drone defense systems and air defense systems, over the past few months. Trump had previously mentioned to reporters that he discussed arms sales to Taiwan with President Xi during his return from China aboard Air Force One.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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