Trump-Xi Meeting Keeps Taiwan on Edge, Eyeing Subtle US Shifts
With US President Donald Trump's visit to Beijing closing in, Taiwan is closely watching for any subtle shift in Washington's tone. According to Nikkei Asia, Taipei is parsing every line on defence assurances for signals about cross-strait stability.
Ahead of US President Donald Trump's visit to Beijing, the Taiwanese government is closely watching for any shifts in tone during US-China discussions. According to Nikkei Asia, Taiwanese officials are parsing every line of Washington's defence-related statements for signals about commitments to the island.
Sources in Taipei said that even small differences in how the 'one China' policy is described could move markets and reshape military planning. China has increased exercises around the Taiwan Strait in recent weeks, while Taipei has lengthened the duration of its air defence alerts in response.
The US State Department said the relationship with Taiwan has not changed despite the Iran war. However, diplomats speaking to Nikkei warned that if Trump prioritises economic pressure during the meeting, the security language could be softer than usual; Taipei is keeping its diplomatic communication channels with Washington open.
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