The summit ended without a public breakthrough on Taiwan, but a pending weapons decision and the island’s chip industry keep the stakes high.
Supplying U.S. weapons to Taiwan serves U.S. interests because it helps the island defend itself and supports its semiconductor industry, which is vital to the global market. Taiwan’s Deputy Foreign Minister François Wu said this on September 26, following the summit between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping.
According to Reuters
Taiwan says arms sales are important to U.S. interests
François Wu said Washington should continue selling arms and ensure Taiwan has sufficient means to defend itself. He also linked U.S. interests to the ability of Taiwan’s semiconductor industry to continue supplying the world.
Maintaining arms sales, giving Taiwan sufficient self-defense capabilities so it does not have to live under Chinese rule, and enabling Taiwan’s semiconductor industry to continue contributing to the world are important U.S. interests.
– François Wu
The Taiwanese government rejects Beijing’s claims of sovereignty over the island. Taiwan is a leading producer of advanced chips, which are used, among other things, to develop artificial intelligence.
Donald Trump and Xi Jinping wrapped up their three-day summit on Friday without major public agreements on a number of contentious issues, including Taiwan. At their meeting in Washington on Thursday, Xi Jinping urged the United States to maintain what he called the “right position” and oppose Taiwan’s independence.
Decision on arms package remains uncertain
In May, after meeting Xi Jinping in Beijing, Trump said he had put off a decision on an arms sales package for Taiwan. He has yet to comment on either his policy toward the island or the package’s future following the Washington summit.
In December, the Trump administration approved $11 billion in arms sales to Taiwan – the largest package of its kind at the time. The next package is estimated at about $14 billion. François Wu said the Taiwanese government is closely monitoring the situation, as Trump and Xi Jinping are expected to meet twice more this year, at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and Group of Twenty summits.
Of course, the best outcome would be to receive assurances. I think the most we can do right now is prepare as well as possible, communicate as much as possible, and make requests as often as possible.
– François Wu
U.S. Ambassador to China David Perdue said Friday that Trump’s position on Taiwan had not changed. He also referred to the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act, which provides for arms sales to the island.
We want peace on both sides of the strait. We do not want coercion, we do not support independence, and we believe President Xi received that message. President Trump showed respect and listened to their position.
– David Perdue
On Saturday, the Chinese newspaper People’s Daily called Taiwan a core Chinese interest and the “first unbreakable red line” in relations between China and the United States in a commentary. Following the summit, Washington did not announce any change in its Taiwan policy, and the decision on a new arms package remains unclear.