Taiwan Arms Sales Set to Test Xi-Trump Ties at Washington Summit
Synopsis
Xi Jinping is expected to press Donald Trump over Taiwan arms sales during their Washington summit, reviving competing interpretations of the 1982 US-China joint communique and the Six Assurances that continue to shape U.S. policy towards Taiwan.
Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to press U.S. President Donald Trump to halt Taiwan arms sales when the two leaders meet in Washington this week.
The issue could be raised during Xi’s visit to the U.S. National Archives where the two sides may revisit the 1982 US-China joint communique governing Washington’s approach to weapons sales to Taiwan.
Under the August 17, 1982 communique, the United States said it intended to gradually reduce its arms sales to Taiwan and did not seek to maintain long-term weapons sales to Taipei.
However, an accompanying statement by then-President Ronald Reagan linked that intention to China’s continued commitment to resolving differences with Taiwan peacefully.
The two governments have maintained different interpretations of the agreement for decades.
Taiwan Arms Sales Become a Key Summit Issue
The dispute comes as Taiwan arms sales Trump has approved remain a sensitive point in the broader U.S.-China relationship. The Trump administration approved an $11 billion package for Taiwan in December, while another Taiwan arms package $14 billion in value has remained on hold for months. Trump previously described the pending package as a negotiating chip after discussing the issue with Xi.
China has also reportedly asked Washington to stop deliveries of weapons already ordered by Taiwan. Beijing considers the island part of its territory while Taiwan rejects China's sovereignty claims. The United States does not maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan but is legally required under the Taiwan Relations Act to help the island maintain its self-defense capability.
Xi Washington Visit Summit Brings Competing Positions
The Xi Washington visit summit is also likely to highlight the importance of the Six Assurances Taiwan received from the Reagan administration in 1982. The assurances stated that Washington had not agreed to set a date for ending arms sales or to consult Beijing in advance about such sales.
The issue has gained added significance as China has increased military activity around Taiwan in recent years. U.S. officials and lawmakers have continued to publicly support Taiwan’s defense capabilities while Beijing has repeatedly called for an end to American weapons sales.
Xi is scheduled to arrive in Washington on Wednesday, with formal talks expected Thursday and the National Archives visit on Friday. The Taiwan issue will form part of a broader summit agenda that also includes trade, technology and other areas of disagreement between the two powers.
Source: Reuters
Vishal is an experienced Editor at Inspirepreneur Magazine with key interests in artificial intelligence, eCommerce, entrepreneurship, lifestyle and startup sector. Prior to joining Inspirepreneur, he was a Content Writer cum Correspondent at Siliconindia Magazine, where he worked on Company Profiles, Cover Stories, Executive Profiles, Feature Articles and Thought Leadership content.
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