Xi Jinping’s country considers the democratic island to be part of its territory and has already threatened to use force to bring it under its control
US President Donald Trump travels this Tuesday (12) to China, where he will meet leader Xi Jinping. According to the New York Times, the meeting should discuss several topics, such as the war in Iran, bilateral business and other topics, such as the sale of weapons to Taiwan.
On Monday (11), Trump said he will talk to his Chinese counterpart about the issue, an issue that Beijing opposes. THE China considers the democratic island to be part of its territory and has already threatened to use force to bring it under its control. Although it recognizes only Beijing, Washington has become a close ally and arms supplier to Taiwan.
“I’m going to have this conversation with President Xi. President Xi wishes we didn’t do this (the sale of arms to Taiwan). This is one of the many issues we’re going to talk about,” Trump told reporters before traveling to Beijing this week. China’s government expressed opposition to the sale on Tuesday.
“China’s opposition to the United States’ arms sales to China’s Taiwan region is coherent and clear,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said at a press conference.
“Six Guarantees”
Under the so-called “Six Assurances” of 1982, a central pillar of American policy on Taiwan, the United States declared that would not “consult” Beijing about arms sales to the island.
Trump appeared to downplay the idea that China would try to take Taiwan, taking advantage of a reduction in American munitions after the United States joined Israel in attacking Iran. After mentioning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Trump said of Taiwan: “I don’t think anything like that is going to happen.”
“I think we’ll be fine. I have a very good relationship with President Xi. He knows I don’t want this to happen,” he added.
Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry promised on Tuesday to “continue strengthening close cooperation” with the United States and “develop effective deterrence capabilities to jointly maintain the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait.”
Strait of Hormuz
According to the New York Times, the American president is expected to appeal to China to pressure Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Last week, the Chinese diplomat Wang Yi met with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Beijing, and called for an effort to reopen the crossing.
The Chinese were careful not to blame Iran for the crisis involving the strait, but they reinforced the country’s concern about the naval blockade.
“The United States is already increasing pressure on China ahead of the summit by targeting its economic ties with Tehran,” explained Lizzi Lee of the Asia Society Policy Institute.
Trump warned last month that he would impose a 50% tariff on Chinese goods if the country provided military assistance to Tehran.
Beijing is a close partner of the Islamic republic and has classified as illegal the US and Israeli bombings that sparked the war on February 28, but has also criticized Iranian attacks on Gulf countries and called for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
However, China will not accept pressure from the United States to take action against Iran or Russia, over which “it may have some influence, but not decisive control”, pointed out Su, from the EIU.
War with Iran would add “another layer of mutual pressure,” Lee maintained, although the real negotiating terrain remains trade and investment.
Jimmy Lai
Trump also said he would again ask Xi to release Hong Kong’s pro-democracy media mogul sentenced in February to 20 years in prisonwhich is practically equivalent to a death sentence for the sick 78-year-old businessman.
The Republican, however, also appeared to demonstrate understanding regarding the position of China, which cracked down harshly on Hong Kong following the massive 2019 pro-democracy protests in the former British colony.
“He caused China a lot of problems,” Trump said of Lai. “He tried to do the right thing. He was unsuccessful, he went to prison and people want him out,” he said.
*With information from AFP
