Taiwan is keenly watching Trump-Xi talks on arms deals

(CNN) - With US President Donald Trump meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping this week, Taiwan will be closely watching whether the issue of vital arms deals comes up during talks between the two leaders.

The United States is Taiwan's most important arms supplier and security guarantor. The Chinese government has long opposed arms sales to this democratic island, which Beijing claims as part of its territory, although it has never ruled it.

Trump has yet to approve an arms deal in the works for Taiwan worth about $14 billion, a deal he described as a "very good negotiating chip" following his summit with Xi in May.

This alarmed Taipei; A senior national security official told reporters that Beijing views delaying US arms sales to Taiwan as a way to impede military buildups on the island.

This, in turn, gives China greater scope to exert pressure on Taiwan, Japan, and the Philippines, in a region of the world that both Beijing and Washington consider a vital line of control in the Western Pacific.

“China’s goal is to get the United States to reduce its security commitment and military presence along the ‘First Island Chain,’ including postponing arms sales to Taiwan,” the official said.

The official added: "China is seeking to buy time to enhance its ability to threaten the region and exert pressure on it. It wants to maintain a certain level of advantage that it currently enjoys in the region, and to ensure that this advantage is not eroded."