President Donald Trump said he will soon decide whether to approve additional weapons sales to Taiwan after discussing the issue directly with Chinese President Xi Jinping during meetings in Beijing.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
President Donald Trump said Friday that he will soon decide whether to move forward with a proposed U.S. arms package for Taiwan following high-level discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a summit in Beijing.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One while returning from China, Trump confirmed that Taiwan was one of the primary subjects discussed during meetings with Xi.
“President Xi and I talked a lot about Taiwan,” Trump said. “He does not want to see a fight for independence because that would be a very strong confrontation.”
Trump stated that Xi raised concerns about American weapons sales to Taiwan “in great detail” but said no commitments were made during the discussions.
“I’ll make a determination over the next fairly short period of time,” Trump said when asked whether the administration would proceed with the arms deal.
The president also revealed that Xi directly questioned whether the United States would intervene militarily if China attempted to seize Taiwan by force.
Trump declined to publicly disclose how he responded.
“There’s only one person that knows that, and it is me,” Trump said. “I said, I don’t talk about that.”
The comments appeared to reinforce the longstanding U.S. policy commonly known as “strategic ambiguity,” under which Washington avoids explicitly stating whether American military forces would defend Taiwan during a conflict with China.
Taiwan remains one of the most sensitive issues in U.S.-China relations.
Beijing considers the self-governing island part of Chinese territory and has repeatedly condemned U.S. military cooperation and arms sales involving Taiwan as interference in internal Chinese affairs.
The United States, however, continues to serve as Taiwan’s largest arms supplier and maintains unofficial political and military ties with the island under longstanding U.S. law and policy.
Despite the tensions surrounding Taiwan, Trump downplayed the likelihood of direct military conflict between Washington and Beijing.
“I don’t think there’s a conflict,” Trump said. “I think we’re going to be fine. He doesn’t want to see a war.”
Trump also indicated that his administration remains focused on avoiding unnecessary overseas conflicts while continuing to compete strategically with China through economic and military pressure.
“I think the last thing we need right now is a war that’s 9,500 miles away,” Trump said.
The president described his relationship with Xi as constructive despite continuing disagreements over trade, cyberespionage, military activity in the Indo-Pacific region, and Taiwan.
“We have a great understanding,” Trump said. “I don’t think he feels he has a very positive thing to have these two nations not getting along.”
Trump’s remarks come amid heightened geopolitical tensions in the Indo-Pacific as China continues expanding military exercises near Taiwan while increasing pressure on the island diplomatically and economically.
The administration has not yet publicly disclosed details of the proposed arms package under consideration.
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