Will Taiwan issue derail Washington and Beijing’s latest reset? Analysts are sceptical
Recent interactions involving the US and Taiwan are not expected to derail the current momentum in relations between Washington and mainland China, according to diplomatic analysts. Beijing was taking a pragmatic approach to navigating the complexities of the Taiwan issue, they said, but the fate of a US$14 billion arms package for the island remained a key concern. During President Xi Jinping’s…
Diplomatic analysts remain skeptical that recent interactions between the United States and Taiwan will derail the ongoing relationship between Washington and Beijing. Beijing's approach to the Taiwan issue is seen as pragmatic, with President Xi Jinping urging the US to oppose Taiwanese independence. During his recent visit to the US, Xi emphasized this stance.
Taiwan's former leader, Tsai Ing-wen, commenced a weeklong visit to the US, meeting with former House speaker Nancy Pelosi and speaking at Stanford University. This was her first visit to the US since her eight-year leadership ended in May 2024, and her first meeting with Pelosi since 2022, which prompted increased military pressure from China.
Beijing has yet to publicly respond to Tsai's visit, but her trips to Japan and Europe following her resignation have led the Taiwan Affairs Office to reaffirm its opposition to Taiwanese independence. Analysts suggest that while Tsai's visit does not necessarily indicate a major shift in US policy, it underscores the complexity of the Taiwan issue in China-US relations.
Furthermore, the US is legally obligated to provide Taiwan with arms for self-defense, and a $14 billion weapons package for the island is currently pending approval by President Trump. Despite his delay, some analysts believe this could still be detrimental to China-US relations, but not enough to overturn the existing consensus on cooperation.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
