Xi heads to Trump summit as China trade surges

A proposed $14 billion US arms sale to Taiwan has emerged as a contentious issue in President Donald Trump's upcoming meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Beijing is urging Washington to postpone the deal, while Taipei seeks to argue that its security interests align with those of the United States. According to the New York Times, Xi is anticipated to pressure Trump to postpone the package, which includes missiles, anti-drone weapons, and air-defense systems. Trump has previously labeled the deal a potential "negotiating chip" with China.

China asserts sovereignty over Taiwan and consistently opposes US arms sales to the self-governing island. The issue has gained particular prominence ahead of the Trump-Xi summit in Washington, where the leaders are expected to discuss trade, technology, and other points of contention. Taiwan heavily relies on US military support to bolster defenses against potential military pressure from Beijing, and Xin Qiang, director of the Center for Taiwan Studies at Fudan University, stated that Taiwan is the issue most capable of causing a sharp deterioration in US-China relations if mishandled.

Trump, on the other hand, has treated the weapons package as leverage in negotiations with China. After their May meeting in Beijing, Trump referred to the proposed sale as a "very good negotiating chip" for the United States. Beijing may also have alternative methods to express its dissatisfaction if Washington approves the sale, such as imposing stricter restrictions on Chinese rare-earth exports or signaling that Xi may skip the Group of 20 summit in Miami, where Trump is scheduled to host.

For Taiwan President Lai Ching-te, the ongoing delay is creating a political challenge, as he has advocated for increased defense spending and greater purchases of US weapons.

Former China director at the US National Security Council, Ryan Hass, noted that Beijing's strategy might involve prolonging the process so that China can improve its military capabilities faster than Taiwan can acquire new capabilities. Meanwhile, the broader US-Taiwan security relationship remains active. Taiwan's defense minister, Wellington Koo, recently indicated that American military advisers have become more visible during the island's annual Han Kuang exercises. Taiwanese officials acknowledge the importance of continued arms sales to Taiwan.

The arms issue arrives at a particularly delicate moment, as Trump and Xi are set to meet in Washington this week. Alongside trade, rare earths, artificial intelligence, and the war in Iran, Taiwan is expected to be one of several issues vying for attention. The situation is markedly different from Trump's approach during his first term, when his administration approved approximately $18 billion in arms sales to Taiwan.

In recent years, Trump's administration has placed greater emphasis on maintaining pragmatic ties with Beijing and reduced public references to Taiwan during major speeches.