Top US Senate Democrat Jeanne Shaheen warns Trump not to waver on Taiwan ahead of Xi meet

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, the top Democrat on the US Senate's foreign policy panel, cautioned President Trump on Monday against signaling any retreat from Taiwan during his upcoming meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The New York-based Concordia Summit hosted the discussion. Shaheen, ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, expressed her hope that President Trump would not communicate any signs of diminished support for Taiwan during the talks.

Shaheen emphasized that Congress displays strong bipartisan support for the historic stance regarding Taiwan. She highlighted Taiwan's significance as a major producer of semiconductors crucial for the United States. Beijing, however, considers Taiwan an integral part of China and would not hesitate to use force if necessary. Most nations, including the US, do not recognize Taiwan as an independent state, but the US remains firm in opposing any attempt to alter the status quo through force and is dedicated to providing the island with defensive weaponry.

China's stance on Taiwan remains consistent and clear, according to the Chinese Embassy in Washington. Shaheen had previously co-led a bipartisan Senate delegation to Taipei in March, where they met with Taiwanese President William Lai Ching-te and urged the island's legislature to endorse a special defense budget. Beijing denounced the trip and urged Washington to avoid sending "wrong signals" to separatist forces.

Shaheen previously expressed concerns about President Trump's commitment to reinforcing the US's support for Taiwan and not undermining their sovereignty. The Senate has since advanced bills to codify the US's "Six Assurances" to Taipei and to prepare sanctions in case of a Chinese attack. A US$14 billion arms package for Taiwan is still awaiting final approval, while China reportedly requested that the US postpone announcing new sales until after the Apec summit in Shenzhen in November.

Shaheen also pointed to a sanctions law signed by Trump on Friday, describing it as a "strong message to Russia and to China and the users of Russian oil and gas." The Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, co-written by Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, extends existing sanctions on Iran for five years and allows the president to impose duties of up to 100 per cent on goods from the five largest buyers of Russian oil and gas, with China and India at the top of the list.