A senior Taiwanese diplomat has stated that the US providing weapons to Taiwan is in the American national interest. Deputy Foreign Minister Francois Wu made the comments following a summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. The meeting, which concluded on Friday, did not yield significant public breakthroughs on contentious issues, including Taiwan. Beijing views Taiwan as its own territory, while Taipei's government rejects Chinese sovereignty claims.
Wu questioned whether making concessions on Taiwan would serve US interests. He emphasized that maintaining military sales to Taiwan, enabling the island to defend itself, and allowing Taiwan's semiconductor industry to continue contributing to the world are crucial US interests. Taiwan is the primary producer of advanced chips driving the AI revolution. The Taiwanese government's stance on sovereignty has long been at odds with Beijing's claims.
President Trump had previously mentioned holding a package of arms sales to Taiwan in abeyance after meeting Xi in Beijing in May. However, Trump has not commented on Taiwan or the pending weapons package following the Washington meeting. The Trump administration approved an $11bn arms sale to Taiwan in December, the largest ever, and a second sale worth approximately $14bn is pending.
Wang Hung-jen, a political science professor at Taiwan's National Cheng Kung University, assessed the summit's outcome as better than expected. Xi did not directly raise arms sales, and Taiwan was not the main focus of the meeting. Wang noted that many anticipated negative outcomes did not materialize. Wu stated that the Taiwanese government had been in continuous communication with Washington regarding the summit.
The US ambassador to China, David Perdue, told CNBC that there has been no change in Taiwan policy by Trump, including the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act, which mandates arms sales to the island. Perdue emphasized that the US wants peace across the strait, opposes coercion, and does not support Taiwanese independence. He believes President Xi has received this message, and President Trump has shown respect and listened to the Chinese side.
China's top newspaper, the People's Daily, reiterated in a commentary that Taiwan is a core Chinese interest and a red line in China-US relations. The newspaper's statement underscores the significance of Taiwan in the complex relationship between China and the US. Taiwan's government continues to navigate this delicate situation, seeking to maintain its sovereignty and international partnerships.
The Taiwanese government remains vigilant regarding the pending arms sales and potential future developments. Deputy Foreign Minister Wu expressed hope that guarantees could be secured, but for now, the government is preparing and communicating with Washington to make requests. With Xi and Trump expected to meet twice more this year, Wu emphasized the importance of continued communication and preparation.
Key points
- Taiwan's deputy foreign minister asserts that US arms sales to Taiwan serve American interests
- The US has approved two significant arms sales to Taiwan, worth $11bn and $14bn
- China's government views Taiwan as a core interest and a red line in China-US relations
