US-China Diplomats Speak Ahead of Trump-Xi Summit
REPORTER:
The top diplomats of the US and China spoke by phone Thursday, ahead of next week's summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Their statements did not mention Taiwan, but concern is growing among US allies in Asia over Trump's comments about the country. Reuters reports Xi will likely press Trump for concessions on Taiwan as the two seek an economic deal. Experts warn that any concessions could embolden Beijing, which claims Taiwan and has not ruled out using force. Taiwan's Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung says Washington has reiterated that its Taiwan policy has not changed.
Trepidation is spreading among US allies in Asia about what US President Donald Trump might say about Taiwan in a meeting with China’s President Xi Jinping next week.
China claims Taiwan and has not ruled out using force to take it, and Taiwan is likely to come up during the Trump-Xi talks. Trump is hoping to get an economic win out of the meeting, and Beijing and the rest of the region will be listening carefully for any change in Trump’s wording about Taiwan. Already, he has called a stalled arms package for Taiwan a—quote— “very good negotiating chip”. Japan, in particular, is trying to get the Trump administration not to do away with established language on Taiwan. Taiwan’s government is also busy communicating with Washington ahead of the meeting, but Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung says the US has insisted its Taiwan policy hasn’t changed.
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