US allies in Asia concerned Trump may use Taiwan as 'negotiating chip' to secure Beijing trade

Allies in Asia are growing apprehensive about President Donald Trump potentially using Taiwan as a negotiating tactic with China to secure a favorable trade deal during his upcoming summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Trump's comments in May likening US arms sales to Taiwan as a "negotiating chip" have heightened these concerns.

A conversation with Chinese officials is expected at the September 24 summit, and a minor shift in US language could boost Beijing's confidence and threaten the region's stability. Emma Chanlett-Avery, director for Asia Society Policy Institute, expressed deep concern over any indication of a softer stance on Taiwan. China views Taiwan as its "core interest" and has never ruled out using force to take control of the island.

Trump has stated that Xi has assured him China will not attack Taiwan during his presidency, unlike his predecessor Joe Biden who vowed to defend Taiwan if China attacked. However, Trump has not publicly declared his stance on the matter. The Taiwanese government has expressed its positions to the US side, urging caution against any actions that could harm Taiwan.

Japan hopes Trump will maintain established diplomatic language on Taiwan, while fearing he might signal a softer stance to gain Chinese commitments to purchase US goods ahead of the midterm elections. Despite the $14 billion arms package for Taiwan, Trump has been holding it in abeyance. China's concerns about arms sales are now being taken seriously by Washington.

Differentiating Trump's language could potentially embolden Beijing, as US policy follows a "one China policy" without officially endorsing Taiwan's sovereignty.