Trump Keeps Taiwan Arms Package Uncertain After Xi Summit
President Donald Trump offered no commitment on a stalled $14 billion Taiwan arms package Friday. Benzinga reported that Trump spoke after returning from a high-stakes May 14 summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing.
Trump Calls for Restraint From Both Sides
In a Fox News interview with anchor Bret Baier, Trump described his stance on Taiwan’s security with a single word: “Neutral.” He said he was not seeking Taiwanese independence and had no desire to send U.S. forces across 9,500 miles to fight a war. Trump urged both Taipei and Beijing to lower tensions. “I want them to cool down. I want China to cool down,” he said, according to Benzinga.
The remarks came hours after Xi reportedly told Trump that mishandling the Taiwan issue could push U.S.-China relations into an “extremely dangerous” situation. The warning underscored how central Taiwan remains to any lasting diplomatic reset between Washington and Beijing.
The Arms Package Stays in Limbo
The Trump Taiwan arms package at the center of the standoff was pre-approved by Congress. It is valued at approximately $14 billion and has sat stalled at the White House for months. When pressed on whether he would release the shipment, Trump was deliberately non-committal. “I may do it. I may not do it,” he said. Beijing has consistently demanded the U.S. halt all arms transfers to Taiwan, viewing them as direct interference in what China considers a domestic matter.
Background: A Long-Standing Flash Point
Taiwan has been a friction point in U.S.-China relations for decades. Washington maintains a policy of strategic ambiguity, formally acknowledging Beijing’s position that Taiwan is part of China while still supplying the island with defensive weapons. Previous administrations approved arms packages routinely, though delivery timelines have often slipped. The Biden administration approved several transfers, but a backlog of equipment built up. Trump’s refusal to confirm or deny release of the current package continues that uncertainty in a more explicit form.
Jimmy Lai and Broader Tensions
Trump also raised the case of imprisoned Hong Kong media owner Jimmy Lai during the Beijing talks. Trump said Xi’s response was “not positive” and expressed little optimism that Lai would be freed soon. Lai has been held since 2020 under Hong Kong’s national security law and faces charges linked to his pro-democracy newspaper activities. The lack of movement on Lai signals broader limits to what the summit actually resolved beyond a temporary trade truce.
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