Trump’s Beijing Visit: Taiwan on the Edge

The next week, President Trump will travel to Beijing for a summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Taiwanese officials expect the meeting to focus on how the two powers handle their many disagreements, rather than solving deep-rooted problems. A senior security adviser in Taipei warned that Beijing might try to push its stance on Taiwan during the talks. Taiwan’s government has long rejected China’s claim that it is part of Chinese territory, while Beijing regards the island as its most sensitive issue. The U. S. , which has a longstanding policy of supporting Taiwan’s defense, insists that its position remains unchanged. This stance is reiterated both publicly and behind closed doors.The Taiwanese security chief said that while the U. S. and China know it is not in either side’s interest to create instability around Taiwan, the island will still be mentioned. The Chinese party may use the summit to pressure for deals such as buying American aircraft or easing economic sanctions. Both sides recognize that many of their disputes have no quick fix, leading to what the Taiwanese adviser described as “fragile stability. ” The United States remains Taiwan’s key international ally, legally committed to providing defense support despite no formal diplomatic ties. In short, the summit is expected to be a tense negotiation where Taiwan’s future hangs in the balance, but neither side wants a sudden crisis that could spiral out of control.