Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to demand an end to U.S. arms sales to Taiwan during his visit to Washington, D.C., this week. According to three sources cited by Reuters, Xi will leverage the issue of Iran sanctions and the 1982 U.S.-China joint communique to press President Donald Trump on this matter during their summit on September 24.
One source indicated that Xi may characterize Taiwan's push to change the status quo as a source of instability. In exchange for the cessation of U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, China is reportedly cooperating with pressure on Iran related to conflicts in the Middle East.
Sources also noted that Xi is likely to revisit favorable interpretations of the 1982 joint communique during his visit to the National Archives. At that time, the U.S. expressed intentions to gradually reduce arms sales to Taiwan, ultimately aiming to cease sales altogether. However, the U.S. did not set a deadline for ending arms sales and agreed to consult with Beijing beforehand.
The Trump administration approved a record $11 billion arms sales package to Taiwan last December. However, a second package worth $14 billion has been on hold for several months. According to sources, China has demanded that the U.S. halt the delivery of weapons that Taiwan has already ordered. President Trump previously described the hold on this package as a 'very good negotiating card' following his summit with Xi in Beijing last May.
Meanwhile, Xi is scheduled to arrive in Washington on September 23 (local time) for an official meeting with President Trump on September 24, followed by a visit to the National Archives on September 25.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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