Xi Jinping presses Donald Trump to explicitly oppose Taiwan independence
The change would mean a shift in Washington’s long-standing position and affect American arms sales to the island, according to analysts.
Quick Look
Chinese President Xi Jinping urged US counterpart Donald Trump to explicitly oppose Taiwan independence during a meeting, pressing for a shift in Washington's traditional stance.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Chinese President Xi Jinping met with US counterpart Donald Trump, pressing for an explicit stance against Taiwan independence.
The change would mean a shift in Washington’s long-standing position and affect American arms sales to the island, according to analysts.
Chinese President Xi Jinping pressed his US counterpart Donald Trump to explicitly oppose Taiwan independence – a call that would require a shift in Washington’s long-standing position and further restraint on American arms sales to the island, according to analysts.
During the meeting between the two leaders on Thursday, Xi said he hoped the US side would “adhere to the correct position of opposing ‘Taiwan independence’”, according to a statement from the foreign ministry in Beijing.
The wording marked another push by Beijing for Washington to adopt an explicit and tougher political position against Taiwan independence, going beyond its traditional formulation of “not supporting” independence – a notable distinction given the high stakes in cross-strait relations.
The White House did not immediately release details of its own account of the exchange.
Open Questions
- What was the White House's detailed account of the exchange?
- Will the US alter its long-standing Taiwan policy?
