Lin Jialong: China’s request to suspend arms sales to Taiwan is a cognitive operation to justify itself

Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to visit the United States to meet with US President Trump on September 24. It is reported that China requires the United States not to approve the second batch of arms sales to Taiwan before the Trump-Xi meeting. In this regard, Foreign Minister Lin Jialong said today (15th) that China's move is a cognitive operation. On the eve of the Trump-Xi meeting, the statement that "Trump does not sell arms to Taiwan because he cares about Xi Jinping's visit" is self-justifying.

In an exclusive interview with the radio program "POP News" this morning, Lin Jialong said that the U.S. government has repeatedly stated that Taiwan policy has not changed. Peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait are in the interests of the United States and the world. Taiwan-U.S. relations are based on the "Taiwan Relations Act" and the "Six Assurances."

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Lin Jialong pointed out that Xi Jinping’s planned visit to the United States this time is a reciprocal return visit and should be mainly ceremonial. Xi Jinping will definitely want to mention Taiwan during this visit, but there are still thorny issues to discuss between the United States and China, such as trade, investment, procurement, and AI competition.

In response to previous disclosures by Japanese media, China has asked the United States not to approve new arms sales to Taiwan before the Trump-Xi talks. Lin Jialong believes that this is China's cognitive warfare operation. It first announced that it would not sell arms to Taiwan before the Trump-Xi meeting. But in fact, there are only a few days left in the Trump-Xi meeting, and arms sales to Taiwan still need to go through the U.S. Congressional process and are still under review. China is trying to use this to create the argument that "it is not selling arms to Taiwan because Trump cares about Xi Jinping's visit." This is to justify itself.

When talking about China, Lin Jialong pointed out that China wants to "manage Trump" and promote "China and the United States to co-administer Taiwan"; but in fact, Taiwan and the United States have very good communication. Taiwan and the United States want to "manage China." Taiwan supports the United States in stabilizing relations with China, but this has nothing to do with and will not harm Taiwan's interests. Everyone should be concerned about Taiwan-US relations, but there is no need to worry.

Lin Jialong emphasized that Taiwan's interests are the interests of the United States. Taiwan and the United States have common interests in the first island chain in the Indo-Pacific, the non-red supply chain, and the global democratic value chain. Diplomacy is based on national interests. Since Taiwan and the United States have common interests, the United States will not harm itself by sacrificing Taiwan.

Finally, regarding President Lai Ching-te's plans for future visits and transit to the United States, Lin Jialong said that there will definitely be exchanges of visits between diplomatic allies, and they will be properly arranged at the appropriate time and method; President Lai has previously transited through Hawaii, the United States, to visit Pacific allies. If he visits further afield in Latin America in the future, it is normal for the United States to be a must-stop transit place. Everything will be handled in accordance with the principles of safety, dignity, convenience, and comfort. As long as the schedule is arranged, you can set off.