During a summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington, discussions focused on trade and artificial intelligence, with Taiwan being addressed only in private. Trump welcomed Xi at the airport, highlighting the historical alliance between the US and China during World War II, stating, "Look at the greatness that we had together fighting in World War II. Brave American pilots volunteered to come to China and fight for the very survival of the legendary country." However, these pilots fought for the Republic of China, which relocated to Taiwan after the Chinese Civil War in 1949, not the People's Republic of China, which was established later.
At a state dinner, Trump remarked, "China draws on thousands of years of history and tradition from Sun Tzu to Sun Yat-sen," referencing the founder of the Republic of China. The status of Taiwan has been a contentious issue between Beijing and Washington since World War II, with the US acknowledging the "one China principle" since 1972, which asserts that Taiwan is part of China. The Taiwan Relations Act, enacted in 1979, legalized arms exports to Taiwan and allowed for military action to maintain the status quo in the Taiwan Strait.
Analysts warn that a conflict between China and Taiwan could destabilize the Asia-Pacific region and disrupt global supply chains, leading to economic recession. During the meeting, Xi did not publicly urge respect for the "one China" principle, and Trump also refrained from mentioning Taiwan. In May, Trump paused a $14 billion arms deal with Taiwan, which remains under review. Ja Ian Chong, a political scientist, noted that the delivery of approved arms to Taiwan would take time due to US production capacity and military needs.
Ahead of the midterm elections, Trump seeks positive headlines and relies on agricultural exports to China, which have significantly decreased. William Yang from the International Crisis Group stated that China used the meeting to express its opposition to US military support for Taiwan. Xinhua reported that Xi addressed the issue privately, emphasizing China's stance on national unity and territorial integrity.
German sinologist Eberhard Sandschneider commented that Taiwanese politicians may be concerned about the US treating Taiwan as a bargaining chip. He expressed skepticism about the likelihood of a Chinese military action against Taiwan, comparing it to illogical past military actions. Sandschneider emphasized that China's strategic interests focus on national sovereignty and reclaiming Taiwan, while acknowledging that military action could lead to economic collapse and undermine the Communist Party's legitimacy.