Taiwan is watching the coming summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping with unease, concerned that any discussions over arms sales could see the island used as leverage in a broader Sino-American deal.
Trump arrives in Beijing on Wednesday for a three-day state visit. According to the White House, the engagements will include a bilateral meeting with Xi and a state banquet on Thursday, as well as a working lunch before Trump departs on Friday.
Speaking at the White House on Monday, Trump said arms sales to Taiwan would be among the issues discussed with Xi, who has long opposed Washington’s military support for the island.
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The remarks immediately reignited debate in Taiwan over whether Trump’s transactional approach to diplomacy could undermine the “Six Assurances” – long-standing US commitments that Washington would not consult Beijing in advance on arms sales to Taiwan.
Taipei moved quickly to reassure the public.
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On Tuesday, Taiwanese foreign ministry spokesman Hsiao Kuang-wei said the island was “closely monitoring US-China interactions and maintaining close communication with Washington” to safeguard its interests.