Trump considers Taiwan arms deal following summit intended to stabilize US-China relations

BEIJING ⁣— ⁢On Friday, President Donald‍ Trump revealed that⁤ he is yet to decide on the proposed major arms ‍deal with Taiwan, following concerns raised by Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Trump’s remarks on ‍Taiwan — a self-governing island that China views ​as part of its territory — were made as ⁣he returned to ‍Washington⁢ after concluding crucial talks. Both leaders acknowledged significant⁤ progress‍ in⁣ stabilizing U.S.-China relations, despite ongoing differences between the two global ‍superpowers ⁤on issues such as Iran and⁢ Taiwan.

“I will ⁢make a determination,” Trump stated. He further added, “I’ll be making decisions. But, you ⁣know, I think the last thing we need right now is a war that’s 9,500 miles away.”

In December, Trump’s Republican ⁣administration ⁢authorized a record-breaking $11 billion weapons⁢ package for Taipei, which is still pending. Additionally, a $14 billion arms sale to Taiwan was approved by lawmakers in January, ⁣but it cannot proceed until‌ Trump officially submits it to Congress. China is against such sales and has indicated that Washington’s relationship with the self-governing​ island is a crucial factor in U.S.-China ‍relations.

Trump ⁣mentioned⁤ that ⁢Xi⁢ reiterated China’s strong opposition to Taiwan’s independence. “I heard ‍him out,”⁣ Trump said. “I didn’t make a comment.”

Analysts suggest that Trump’s consultation‌ with Xi about arms sales to Taiwan may violate‍ the⁤ so-called Six ⁣Assurances, a set of nonbinding U.S. policy principles formulated in 1982 under President Ronald Reagan that have helped guide the U.S. relationship⁣ with ⁤Taipei.

The second ​of the Six Assurances states that the U.S. “did not agree ⁢to consult with the People’s Republic ‌of China on arms ⁢sales to Taiwan.”

Trump mentioned that the issue of the 1982 assurances was discussed in the talks ‌with Xi.

Trump also brought up a potential three-way nuclear deal involving‍ the U.S., Russia, and China.⁢ He proposed that each of the three countries sign a pact to limit the number of nuclear ​warheads in their ‌arsenals. China has previously‌ shown little interest in ⁣such a pact.

According to Pentagon estimates, Beijing’s arsenal exceeds 600 warheads and is far from parity with the U.S. and Russia, which are each estimated to have more than 5,000 warheads. However, Trump ⁤suggested that Xi was open‌ to the idea.

“I got a very, a positive response,”‍ Trump said. “This is the beginning.”

The​ last nuclear arms pact, known​ as the​ New START treaty, between Russia and the United States expired in February, removing any caps on the two largest atomic arsenals for the ⁢first ‍time in more than a half-century. As the treaty was set to expire, Trump rejected‍ a ⁢call by Russia to extend the two-country deal for another ​year⁣ and called for “a new, improved and modernized” deal ‌that includes China.

The Pentagon estimates that by 2030, ⁤China will have more than 1,000 nuclear warheads.

On⁢ Friday,‌ Xi welcomed Trump at his official ‌residence, ⁣Zhongnanhai, for their final engagement of the summit ​before the U.S. leader’s return to Washington. The leaders took a short‍ walk through ⁣the grounds that feature ancient trees and ⁤Chinese roses, and they strolled through ‌a covered passageway with green columns and archways painted with birds and traditional Chinese mountain scenes.

Over tea and lunch, Trump and Xi —⁢ with top ‌aides and translators in ⁢tow ‌— huddled for nearly three hours ​of ‌talks before ⁢the U.S. leader completed ⁣his three-day visit‌ to China.

Trump appeared impressed ​by the bucolic grounds, remarking that⁢ the roses were the ‍most beautiful ⁤he had ever seen. Xi‌ promised to send ⁢him some ⁣rose seeds.

The ‍compound is wrapped ⁣around ⁣two artificial‌ lakes built for the pleasure⁣ of emperors. Zhongnanhai is‍ often compared to the White House, the⁤ Kremlin or South Korea’s Blue House. But unlike the other presidential residences, Zhongnanhai does not ⁢serve as the main venue for diplomatic visits. The invitation appeared to be an ​attempt by‍ Xi to extend a personal touch to ⁣a U.S. leader who appreciates big gestures.

“It’s been really a great couple of⁤ days,”​ Trump told ‍reporters.

Xi, for ⁢his part, called it a “milestone” visit. “We have established a new bilateral relationship, or rather a constructive, strategic, stable relationship,” he⁢ said.

However, this optimistic ‍outlook collides with some difficult truths⁤ about the thorniest issues between the two superpowers.

Beijing has shown little public interest in U.S. entreaties to get ​more ⁢involved in solving the conflict in Iran, even ‍though Trump said in an interview with Fox News’ Sean ⁣Hannity that Xi had, in their conversations, offered to help.

In ⁢recent weeks, the ⁢U.S. State Department has accused Chinese firms of providing satellite imagery to the Iranian government, and ​the Treasury Department has moved to target Chinese oil refineries accused of buying oil from⁢ Tehran, as⁣ well as​ shippers of the oil.

During private talks on Thursday, Xi ⁣warned Trump that their differences on Taiwan, if handled poorly, could propel the world’s dominant powers ‍toward “clashes and even conflicts,” according to Chinese government ⁤officials.

But Trump, as he made his way home, said⁢ he was‌ not concerned that the⁤ U.S.-China⁣ relationship was in danger. “I think we will be fine,” he⁣ said.

Xi’s strong stance⁢ on ‍Taiwan overshadowed the visit, with Chinese government officials echoing his⁣ view that differences on the ​island‌ pose the biggest risk⁢ to U.S.-Chinese relations.

But Secretary of ‌State Marco Rubio told NBC News that U.S. policy toward Taiwan ⁣was “unchanged” and warned that ​it would be “a terrible mistake” for ‍China to attempt to take Taiwan by⁢ force. He also ​framed Xi’s comments as ‍standard practice.

“They ⁤always raise it on their side. We always make ‍clear our ‍position, and we move on to the other topics,” said Rubio, who was among the senior aides to join Trump for the talks.

In recent weeks, China has sought to‌ emphasize its view ‌that Taiwan is​ at the “core” ‌of its interests and is​ key to ensuring a stable relationship with the U.S. At times, Trump has shown ambivalence toward Taiwan, sparking speculation ​that he could be open to loosening ties with⁢ Taipei.

Trump said⁢ he and Xi also had extensive discussions about ⁣Iran.

The leaders agreed that the critical Strait of Hormuz — effectively closed since the start of the Iran ‍conflict — needs to be reopened to support global⁣ energy demands. About 20% of the world’s oil flowed through the strait before the‍ war started on Feb. 28.

“We feel very similar about (how) we want it to end,” ⁣the⁣ president said with Xi at his side. “We don’t want them⁢ to have a nuclear weapon.”

White House officials ​said Xi was also opposed to any implementation of tolls on vessels crossing the strait and expressed interest ⁣in China potentially purchasing U.S. oil to reduce Chinese dependence on Gulf oil in the future.

Earlier this week,⁣ Trump downplayed the importance ⁤of talks with Xi on the 11-week-old Iran war that has led​ to surging energy‍ prices and threatens to plunge the⁣ global​ economy into recession if‍ the conflict does not conclude soon.