Taiwan arms sale back in focus as Trump insists he gave no ground to Xi
Following the Trump-Xi summit, US President Donald Trump said he gave no ground to Beijing on Taiwan. At the centre of the debate is whether Washington will approve a new defence package for Taiwan and how China would respond.
US President Donald Trump said he had given no ground to Beijing on Taiwan following his summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Trump's remarks have rekindled questions among Asian allies and analysts about whether Washington will press ahead with arms sales to Taiwan.
White House officials indicated that Washington is preparing to approve a new defence package for Taiwan. The package is reported to include radar systems, anti-ship missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles. China's Foreign Ministry has previously said any such sale would be treated as damaging to bilateral ties.
Military activity around Taiwan has intensified in recent months; the increasing frequency of Chinese exercises in the Taiwan Strait and around the island has unsettled US allies and officials in Taipei. The White House decision on the timing of the package may also shape China's willingness to cooperate on other dossiers, from Hormuz to North Korea.
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