{
  "id": 9107357,
  "title": "Why Taiwan remains a key issue in China-US ties",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/why-taiwan-remains-a-key-issue-in-china-us-ties",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-22T07:23:38.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Economic Times",
    "slug": "the-economic-times",
    "url": "https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/the-taiwan-tension-navigating-the-thorny-path-of-china-us-relations/articleshow/134405729.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "China's President Xi Jinping is anticipated to urge US President Donald Trump to cease arms sales to Taiwan during their upcoming encounter in Washington this week. Taiwan is of paramount importance to Beijing, viewed as an integral part of its national sovereignty and territorial integrity. The mainland nation vehemently opposes any perceived interference by external entities in this matter.\n\nChina's stance on Taiwan dates back centuries, with the island being incorporated into its territory at various points throughout history. Following the Qing dynasty's rule from 1885 to 1895, Taiwan was leased to Japan after a conflict. Subsequently, after World War Two in 1945, control reverted to the Republic of China government. This period marked the culmination of the Chinese civil war, culminating in the retreat of the defeated government to Taiwan in 1949 following the communist victory under Mao Zedong.\n\nChina categorizes Taiwan as a Chinese province that lacks the legitimacy to claim statehood. While China has not ruled out the use of force to assert control over the island, it prefers a peaceful reunification. Taiwan, on the other hand, is a flourishing democracy that rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims. The island maintains that it is an independent country known as the Republic of China, and it has the right to engage with the global community and elect its own leaders.\n\nTaiwan has consistently offered dialogue with China, yet Beijing has consistently dismissed these proposals. Neither government officially recognizes the other, and Beijing refuses to refer to Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te as president, instead labeling him a separatist. Lai has stated that since Taiwan is already an independent nation, there is no necessity to declare formal independence.\n\nThe United States, which ended official diplomatic relations with Taipei in favor of Beijing in 1979, still provides Taiwan with the means to defend itself under the Taiwan Relations Act. Washington does not take a formal stance on Taiwan's sovereignty under its One China policy. In 2022, the US State Department included information on the Six Assurances, which were security assurances given to Taiwan during the Reagan administration. These assurances were declassified by the United States in 2020. Among them were assurances that the US would not set a date for ending arms sales to Taiwan, would not consult Beijing before such sales, and would not amend the Taiwan Relations Act that forms the basis of US policy towards the island.\n\nChina has consistently demanded that the US halt arms sales to Taiwan. In the past, Beijing has escalated military exercises around the island following high-level US engagement with Taipei, including in 2022 following Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}