Trump and Xi didn’t ‘talk much’ about Taiwan. What does that say about where it stands? — SkimNews
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- Trump told reporters he and Xi 'didn't talk about it too much' about Taiwan at the summit, adding 'He understands very much how I feel,' and gave no further elaboration on what was discussed.
- Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council issued a Sept 25 correction noting the People's Republic of China 'did not exist during the war,' and protested a post-summit fact sheet for omitting Taiwan while stating the US and China 'fought side by side' in WWII.
- Xi Jinping told Trump China hopes the US will 'oppose Taiwan independence' and handle the question 'with prudence,' per Xinhua; Taiwan officials responded that US policy remains unchanged.
- Chinese military pressure on Taiwan is now routine, with daily air and naval incursions around the island and China Coast Guard patrols that extended to waters east of Taiwan in June.
- A US$14 billion (S$18 billion) arms package to Taiwan has been on hold for months; Trump described US arms sales to Taiwan as 'a very good negotiating chip' after the May Beijing summit.
- Trump and Xi have two more meetings planned in 2026 — APEC in Shenzhen in November and G-20 in Miami in December — with analysts expecting the US to keep arms sales in abeyance.
- Taiwan produces more than 90% of the world's most advanced chips used in AI data centers, making it a 'high strategic priority' for Washington and the heart of the First Island Chain, per Hoover fellow Eyck Freymann.
Why it matters: For Taiwan, the practical stakes are concrete: a US$14 billion weapons package sits frozen while Beijing reframes WWII history to bolster its sovereignty claim and runs daily military incursions. Analysts say US policy hasn't formally shifted, but the timing of arms decisions is increasingly tied to the rhythm of Trump-Xi diplomacy across the two remaining 2026 summits.
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