Why Trump’s visit to Beijing has Taiwan on edge about US arms sales

Lead

When President Donald Trump arrived in Beijing this week for his first visit to China in nine years, the future of US arms sales to Taiwan was not officially on the published agenda — but it was never far from the surface. Trump confirmed before leaving Washington that Taiwan would be discussed in his talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, and by the end of the summit he said the issue had been raised directly. The exchange underscored the delicate balance Washington must strike between its long-standing support for Taiwan and Beijing's firm insistence that the island is part of China — a balance that analysts say is now more fragile than ever.

Coverage Comparison

Coverage of the visit across outlets converged on the central role of Taiwan in the talks, though each source emphasized a different angle. Al Jazeera reported that Trump did not commit to an arms sale during his visit, noting the White House had earlier suspended a $14 billion arms package — a reported concession ahead of the summit. The same outlet also quoted Trump saying he discussed Taiwan arms sales with Xi and was considering lifting sanctions on Chinese companies that buy Iranian oil.

The Guardian, focusing on the diplomatic framing, reported US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's assurance that US policy on Taiwan remains "unchanged" across administrations, even as Xi issued a stark warning that mishandling the Taiwan question could push the relationship "into a very dangerous place." The Jerusalem Post carried Xi's warning in similarly direct terms, quoting him as saying the two countries "will clash or even come into conflict" if the issue is not handled well.

South China Morning Post coverage added context from Taiwan, describing the island's unease ahead of the summit and its fears of becoming a "bargaining chip." The newspaper also reported on a large-scale live-fire drill on Kinmen island — hours before Trump's arrival — which simulated a PLA amphibious assault. Elsewhere, SCMP reported that Beijing had pressed Washington to reduce the size of arms packages, a claim sourced to people familiar with the matter.

Key Claims

Trump and Xi Discuss Taiwan

President Trump said before departing for Beijing that Taiwan would be part of his talks with Xi, telling reporters in the Oval Office that Xi would likely raise the issue more than he would. "He'll bring up Taiwan, I think, more than I will," Trump said, according to South China Morning Post. After the talks, Trump confirmed to Al Jazeera that he discussed US arms sales to Taiwan with Xi.

Xi's Warning on Conflict

Multiple sources, including Reuters and The Guardian, reported Xi's warning that mishandling the Taiwan issue could lead to conflict between the US and China. Xi described Taiwan as "the most important issue in China-US relations," according to Xinhua, and said the two countries could be pushed "into a very dangerous place." This warning was echoed by the Jerusalem Post, which quoted Xi directly.

Beijing Presses for Reduced Arms Sales

South China Morning Post reported that Beijing had pressed Washington to reduce the size of arms packages and slow the pace of approvals, according to people familiar with the matter. The sources said Chinese officials raised this demand early in the year and insisted Washington hold off on any Taiwan arms approvals before and after the visit. One source said Beijing was keen to "arrest the trend line" on the record arms packages of Trump's second term.

Taiwan's Military Drill

Hours before Trump's landing, Taiwan staged a large-scale live-fire drill on Kinmen, a frontline island near mainland China, according to South China Morning Post. The exercise simulated a PLA amphibious assault and included the first live firing of US-made Javelin anti-tank missiles stationed on the island.

US Arms Sales as a 'Most Important Indicator'

Analysts cited by South China Morning Post said Beijing's assessment of whether Trump can "properly handle" the Taiwan issue would largely come down to arms sales. Shao Yunqun, a senior research fellow at the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, called arms sales the "most important indicator" for Beijing in assessing the relationship.

Perspectives

US Perspective

The White House has sought to present the visit as a success, with Trump hailing his relationship with Xi. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio insisted that US policy on Taiwan is "unchanged" and consistent across administrations. The US does not officially recognize Taiwan as independent but is required by domestic law to provide it with defensive weapons. Trump's transactional approach has raised questions in Taiwan about the reliability of longstanding commitments.

Chinese Perspective

Beijing views Taiwan as part of China to be reunified by force if necessary and opposes US arms sales as interference in its internal affairs. Xi's warning was directed at the danger of mishandling the issue. Analysts suggest Beijing is seeking to test Trump's willingness to reduce arms sales as a sign of his commitment to stable relations.

Taiwanese Perspective

Taiwan's government expressed gratitude for US support but voiced concern about being used as leverage. A Taiwanese foreign ministry spokesman said the island was closely monitoring US-China interactions. The live-fire drill on Kinmen was widely seen as a show of resolve and preparedness, according to South China Morning Post.

Conclusion

The summit underscored the complexity of the US-China-Taiwan triangle. While both Washington and Beijing emphasized their desire for stability, the arms sales issue remains a volatile point. Taiwan watches with unease as its security becomes a variable in great-power negotiations. Whether the meeting yields concrete changes remains unclear, but the issue is unlikely to fade from the agenda.