TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Former US Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns on Friday urged US President Donald Trump to reaffirm commitments to Taiwan’s defense ahead of his planned summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
Burns made the remarks at a George Washington University forum while responding to questions about the upcoming talks, per CNA. Trump and Xi are scheduled to meet in Beijing from March 31 to April 2.
Burns said Taiwan should be part of the agenda and urged Washington to maintain its longstanding “one China” policy. He also called on the Trump administration to uphold its defense commitments under the Taiwan Relations Act.
Washington must also maintain sufficient military forces in the Western Pacific to support security goals, he added.
Burns added he hopes the leaders discuss Beijing’s support for Russia’s defense industry. He said China’s supply of dual-use technologies and microelectronics helps Russia sustain the war in Ukraine.
He added that China’s actions around Philippine-held reefs in the South China Sea should also be addressed. The issue remains a major source of regional tension.
On human rights, Burns criticized the 20-year prison sentence handed to Jimmy Lai, founder of Next Media, calling it “outrageous.” He said the case reflects the sharp decline in civil liberties in Hong Kong since the city returned to Chinese rule in 1997.
Also speaking at the forum was former US Ambassador Thomas Pickering, who echoed concerns about tensions in the Taiwan Strait. He urged continued dialogue, saying the issue cannot simply be set aside.
Pickering said the 1972 Shanghai Communique created a framework for dialogue based on the “one China” principle. He suggested Taiwan and Beijing maintain structured talks to manage disputes.