President Trump said Friday after two days of talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping that he had not decided whether to move forward with a $14 billion arms sale to Taiwan — and that he wanted both Beijing and Taipei to “cool down” their rhetoric.
Asked about the arms sale while traveling back to Washington on board Air Force One, Trump told reporters: “I will make a determination … 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.”
Moments earlier, Trump had downplayed the possibility of a US-China conflict over the self-governing island, telling reporters: “I think we’ll be fine.”
The White House authorized a record-setting $11 billion weapons package for Taipei, but it has yet to move forward. Lawmakers also approved a $14 billion arms sale to Taiwan in January, but the sale cannot advance until Trump formally sends it to Congress.
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“I’m holding that in abeyance, and it depends on China,” Trump said of the potential sale, in an interview with Fox News “Special Report” host Bret Baier. “It depends – it’s a very good negotiating chip for us, frankly. It’s a lot of weapons.”
The Chinese government wasted little time establishing the fate of Taiwan as a key topic during this week’s talks, blasting out a statement Thursday relating that Xi had told Trump “that the Taiwan question is the most important issue in China-US relations. If it is handled properly, the bilateral relationship will enjoy overall stability. Otherwise, the two countries will have clashes and even conflicts, putting the entire relationship in great jeopardy.”
Beijing’s readout continued: “‘Taiwan independence’ and cross-Strait peace are as irreconcilable as fire and water. Safeguarding peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait is the biggest common denominator between China and the US.
The president downplayed the intensity of the discussion about Taiwan, telling reporters of Xi: “I heard him out,” but “I didn’t make a comment either way.”
However, Trump did acknowledge that he and Xi “discussed arm sales in great detail, actually.”
Under the “One China” policy, in effect since the late 1970s, Washington acknowledges China’s claims over Taiwan, but takes no position on them while also avoiding directly advocating for Chinese independence.
However, the US is one of Taiwan’s biggest arms dealers and has operated under the non-binding Reagan-era Six Principles, the second of which states that Washington “did not agree to consult with the People’s Republic of China on arms sales to Taiwan.”
In an interview with Fox News Channel recorded Friday, Trump insisted that “nothing’s changed” regarding policy toward China and Taiwan.
“I will say this,” he added. “I’m not looking to have somebody go independent. And, you know, we’re supposed to travel 9,500 miles to fight a war. I’m not looking for that. I want them to cool down. I want China to cool down.”
Asked what would be the deciding factor in approving more arms sales to Taiwan, Trump told Fox News chief political anchor Bret Baier: “Well, I’m not going to say that, but I may do it. I may not do it.
“But we’re not looking to have wars and we’re — if you kept it the way it is, I think China is going to be OK with that. but we’re not looking to have somebody say, ‘Let’s go independent because the United States is backing us,’ you know?”
The president noted China “probably would do something pretty harsh,” if Taiwan were to formally declare independence, “and then [China] would be met harshly, and bad things will happen.”
Trump argued China wouldn’t attempt a takeover of Taiwan until sometime after he leaves office in January 2029.
“I don’t think they’ll do anything when I’m here. When I’m not here, I think they might, to be honest with you,” Trump told Baier.
“It’s always been the biggest thing for him, Taiwan,” Trump said of Xi’s desire to annex the self-governing island.
