Taiwan Thanks US for Support Ahead of Trump-Xi Summit

Taiwan’s government on Thursday expressed gratitude for continued US support and said it remains in close communication with Washington as President Donald Trump prepares to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in the US capital.

The Trump-Xi summit comes amid renewed tensions over Taiwan, which Beijing claims as part of its territory. China said Wednesday that Taiwan remains a “red line” in US-China relations. Washington has no formal diplomatic relations with Taipei but remains Taiwan’s leading international supporter and arms supplier.

Xi is expected to raise US arms sales to Taiwan during talks with Trump and push Washington to halt them, according to sources briefed on the discussions. Xi arrived in Washington on Wednesday ahead of Thursday’s meeting.

Taiwan cabinet spokesperson Michelle Lee said Taipei was closely monitoring developments surrounding the summit and maintaining regular contact with US officials.

Lee said Taiwan views efforts to stabilize the region and manage risks from authoritarian expansion positively, adding that Taipei continues to cooperate with Washington at multiple levels. She also thanked the US for its longstanding support and said Washington had repeatedly reaffirmed its position regarding Taiwan.

Arms sales are expected to be a key issue. The Trump administration approved an $11 billion weapons package for Taiwan in December, the largest such package to date. However, another package valued at roughly $14 billion has remained on hold for months.

Following a May meeting with Xi in Beijing, Trump said the second package was being kept in abeyance, describing it as a “very good negotiating chip.”

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking to reporters in New York on Wednesday, said Washington must consider broader global defense requirements when making arms-sale decisions.

Rubio noted that weapons supplied to one partner are no longer immediately available for other needs, even if US manufacturers can replenish inventories later.

The Taiwan issue is therefore set to remain a significant point of discussion as Trump and Xi address US-China relations, regional security and defense policy during their Washington summit.