U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday he would discuss the topic of arms sales to Taiwan and the case of jailed media tycoon Jimmy Lai with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing this week.
“I’m going to have that discussion with President Xi,” Trump told reporters at the White House when asked about Washington’s longstanding support for Taiwan’s defense.
“President Xi would like us not to, and I’ll have that discussion. That’s one of the many things I’ll be talking about.”
China claims the democratically governed island as its own, a contention Taiwan rejects. Washington follows a “one-China policy,” acknowledging China’s position but taking no view on Taiwan’s sovereignty.
The United States is Taiwan’s most important international backer and is bound by law to help with its defense.
The arms transfers have long been a source of friction in U.S.-China relations. In December, Trump announced the largest-ever U.S. weapons package for the island, more than $11 billion.
In recent days, the Republican president’s aides have urged Taiwan to commit even more money to its defense, and a U.S. official said the Trump-Xi summit signaled no change in policy toward Taiwan.
Speaking to reporters, Trump repeated his doubt that tension over the island would erupt during his presidency.
“I don’t think it’ll happen,” he said, without elaborating. “I think we’ll be fine. I have a very good relationship with President Xi. He knows I don’t want that to happen.”
In Taipei, Taiwan Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hsiao Kuang-wei said the Trump administration has continued to reaffirm its support, including December’s $11-billion arms package.
“We will continue to enhance cooperation with the United States, build effective deterrence forces, and jointly maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait,” he told reporters.
LAI’S IMPRISONMENT TO BE RAISED
Trump said he would bring up with his Chinese counterpart the case of Lai, a veteran pro-democracy advocate and Hong Kong’s most vocal China critic.
Lai was sentenced to 20 years in jail in February on two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and one count of publishing seditious materials.
“Jimmy Lai – he caused lots of turmoil for China. He tried to do the right thing. He wasn’t successful, went to jail, and people would like him out, and I’d like to see him get out too. So I’ll bring him up again,” Trump said, adding he has also previously brought up Lai’s case with China.
