Trump supports ‘Six Assurances’ to Taiwan but no timeline for arms sale, US diplomat says

Lead

The top US diplomat for East Asia, Michael DeSombre, sought to reassure Taiwan that Washington stood by its “Six Assurances” despite US President Donald Trump’s earlier dismissal of the policy, but offered no timeline for approving a stalled US$14 billion arms package to the self-ruled island.

DeSombre, assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, told a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on Thursday that US policy on Taiwan had not changed, maintaining Washington’s commitment to preserving peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.

Meanwhile, China’s embassy in Washington warned that the US risks provoking a direct confrontation or even a conflict with China if it adopts the wrong approach to the Taiwan issue, commenting on DeSombre’s statements on arms sales to Taiwan.

Coverage Comparison

The South China Morning Post focused on the US reassurance, highlighting that US policy on Taiwan remains unchanged and that Trump’s discussion with Chinese President Xi Jinping did not deviate from the Six Assurances. The report includes direct quotes from officials.

TASS, the Russian state news agency, centered its coverage on China’s warning of a potential conflict and Beijing’s firm opposition to US arms sales to Taiwan. The framing is cautious, with language such as “conflict” and “dangerous situation.”

Key Claims

• The US diplomat for East Asia, Michael DeSombre, reassured Taiwan that Washington stood by its 'Six Assurances' despite Trump's earlier dismissal of the policy, according to the South China Morning Post.

• US policy on Taiwan has not changed, maintaining Washington's commitment to preserving peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, as reported by the South China Morning Post.

• Trump discussed Taiwan arms sales with Chinese President Xi Jinping, a fact acknowledged by DeSombre, who said Beijing was “constantly talking to us about their desire for us not to sell arms to Taiwan.”

• A US$14 billion arms package to Taiwan is stalled, with DeSombre declining to specify when the US administration might decide to transfer the approximately $14 billion package that had previously been approved by Congress, as reported by both sources.

• China warned the US of potential conflict over the Taiwan issue. “If handled well, the bilateral relationship can remain generally stable, allowing both sides to devote more energy to mutually beneficial cooperation. If mishandled, the two countries could clash or even come into conflict, pushing the entire China-US relationship into a highly dangerous situation,” said Liu Chang, embassy spokesperson in Washington.

• China's embassy stated its opposition to US arms sales to Taiwan, with spokesperson Liu Chang saying, “China’s position of firm opposition to US arms sales to the Taiwan region is consistent and clear.”

• The total amount of US military supplies to Taiwan has exceeded $70 billion, according to TASS’s reporting.

• The US is insisting that Taiwan increase its budget allocations for the purchase of American weapons and military equipment, as DeSombre said on June 25, according to TASS.

Perspectives

US official stance: The US has not changed its Taiwan policy and continues to adhere to the Six Assurances, even while discussing arms sales with China.

China's stance: China firmly opposes US arms sales to Taiwan and warns that mishandling the Taiwan issue could lead to a direct conflict or dangerous situation in the bilateral relationship.