Xi’s ‘blunt’ warning to Trump on Taiwan exposes profound risks, say analysts
Xi Jinping made it clear to Donald Trump that he sees Taiwan as a potential flashpoint between the two superpowers
China’s President Xi Jinping makes a toast during a state banquet for US President Donald Trump at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. (AFP pic)
BEIJING: Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s unusually “blunt” warning to US President Donald Trump over Taiwan at Thursday’s summit in Beijing exposes potentially grave pitfalls in the relationship, although its immediate impact could be limited, analysts say.
US sales of military equipment to the self-ruled island claimed by Beijing have long enraged the Chinese government, threatening to derail already-fraught engagement on trade and other issues between the world’s top two economies.
China has vowed to bring Taiwan under its control, by force if necessary, while the US – which diplomatically recognises only Beijing – is required under domestic law to provide weapons to the democratic island so that it can defend itself.
Xi warned Trump on Thursday that “the Taiwan question is the most important issue” in their bilateral relationship, according to remarks published by Chinese state media soon after the talks began.
“If mishandled, the two nations could collide or even come into conflict, pushing the entire China-US relationship into a highly perilous situation,” he said.
Such “blunt” rhetoric is “out of the ordinary” coming from Xi in conversation with a US president, Adam Ni, editor of the China Neican newsletter, told AFP.
“Xi wants to make it very clear to Trump and to the public record that he thinks the Taiwan issue is the potential powder keg between the two superpowers,” Ni said.
Chong Ja Ian of the National University of Singapore said China “has been signalling a desire for US compromise on Taiwan in the lead-up to the summit”.
“Perhaps they see some opportunity to convince Trump,” Chong said.
“So far, the US side has not indicated any movement.”
No consensus yet
Trump has not commented publicly on Taiwan since arriving in Beijing on Wednesday evening.
He ignored multiple questions on the subject from reporters during a visit to the Temple of Heaven on Thursday afternoon, where he and Xi posed for photographs after talks.
A readout of the meeting from a White House official also made no mention of Taiwan.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Trump would say more on Taiwan “in the coming days”, adding that the president “understands the sensitivities” about the island.
Trump said days before the trip that he would discuss US arms sales to Taiwan with Xi – something that would be a break with a decades-long policy of not consulting with Beijing on the issue.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is also in Beijing and known for his firm line on China as a senator, suggested continuity in an interview with Fox News aboard Air Force One.
“It’s not in China’s interest or anyone’s interest for there to be any sort of forced change in the status quo. I think stability there is very important,” he said.
Tzeng Wei-feng of the National Chengchi University’s Institute of International Relations in Taipei told AFP that he thinks Xi and Trump “don’t have a consensus yet” on the issue of arms sales.
While a deal on that sensitive subject is unlikely, Tzeng said, it’s possible that Trump will make “some statement that weakens the United States’ promise on defending Taiwan”.
Non-negotiable
Trump repeatedly touted his personal relationship with Xi in the run-up to the summit, praising him as “a Leader of extraordinary distinction” in a social media post on Tuesday.
Many observers say Trump is placing great stock in his ability to cash in on that rapport during the summit.
Casting a shadow over talks is the unresolved US-Israeli war with Iran, which previously delayed Trump’s visit to China – the top customer of Iranian oil.
Speculation has emerged that Trump would seek to use US arms sales to Taiwan as a bargaining chip to encourage Beijing to use its leverage with Tehran to accept a deal to end the war.
However, Ryan Hass, an expert on China and Taiwan at the Washington-based Brookings Institution, threw cold water on the proposition.
“Doing so would violate Beijing’s longstanding principle that Taiwan is ‘non-negotiable’. It isn’t how Beijing rolls,” he wrote on social media.
“More likely, both leaders will affirm their shared interest in stabilising relations and use (economic and) commercial deals to demonstrate progress.”
BEIJING: Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s unusually “blunt” warning to US President Donald Trump over Taiwan at Thursday’s summit in Beijing exposes potentially grave pitfalls in the relationship, although its immediate impact could be limited, analysts say.
US sales of military equipment to the self-ruled island claimed by Beijing have long enraged the Chinese government, threatening to derail already-fraught engagement on trade and other issues between the world’s top two economies.
China has vowed to bring Taiwan under its control, by force if necessary, while the US – which diplomatically recognises only Beijing – is required under domestic law to provide weapons to the democratic island so that it can defend itself.
Xi warned Trump on Thursday that “the Taiwan question is the most important issue” in their bilateral relationship, according to remarks published by Chinese state media soon after the talks began.
“If mishandled, the two nations could collide or even come into conflict, pushing the entire China-US relationship into a highly perilous situation,” he said.
Such “blunt” rhetoric is “out of the ordinary” coming from Xi in conversation with a US president, Adam Ni, editor of the China Neican newsletter, told AFP.
“Xi wants to make it very clear to Trump and to the public record that he thinks the Taiwan issue is the potential powder keg between the two superpowers,” Ni said.
Chong Ja Ian of the National University of Singapore said China “has been signalling a desire for US compromise on Taiwan in the lead-up to the summit”.
“Perhaps they see some opportunity to convince Trump,” Chong said.
“So far, the US side has not indicated any movement.”
No consensus yet
Trump has not commented publicly on Taiwan since arriving in Beijing on Wednesday evening.
He ignored multiple questions on the subject from reporters during a visit to the Temple of Heaven on Thursday afternoon, where he and Xi posed for photographs after talks.
A readout of the meeting from a White House official also made no mention of Taiwan.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Trump would say more on Taiwan “in the coming days”, adding that the president “understands the sensitivities” about the island.
Trump said days before the trip that he would discuss US arms sales to Taiwan with Xi – something that would be a break with a decades-long policy of not consulting with Beijing on the issue.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is also in Beijing and known for his firm line on China as a senator, suggested continuity in an interview with Fox News aboard Air Force One.
“It’s not in China’s interest or anyone’s interest for there to be any sort of forced change in the status quo. I think stability there is very important,” he said.
Tzeng Wei-feng of the National Chengchi University’s Institute of International Relations in Taipei told AFP that he thinks Xi and Trump “don’t have a consensus yet” on the issue of arms sales.
While a deal on that sensitive subject is unlikely, Tzeng said, it’s possible that Trump will make “some statement that weakens the United States’ promise on defending Taiwan”.
Non-negotiable
Trump repeatedly touted his personal relationship with Xi in the run-up to the summit, praising him as “a Leader of extraordinary distinction” in a social media post on Tuesday.
Many observers say Trump is placing great stock in his ability to cash in on that rapport during the summit.
Casting a shadow over talks is the unresolved US-Israeli war with Iran, which previously delayed Trump’s visit to China – the top customer of Iranian oil.
Speculation has emerged that Trump would seek to use US arms sales to Taiwan as a bargaining chip to encourage Beijing to use its leverage with Tehran to accept a deal to end the war.
However, Ryan Hass, an expert on China and Taiwan at the Washington-based Brookings Institution, threw cold water on the proposition.
“Doing so would violate Beijing’s longstanding principle that Taiwan is ‘non-negotiable’. It isn’t how Beijing rolls,” he wrote on social media.
“More likely, both leaders will affirm their shared interest in stabilising relations and use (economic and) commercial deals to demonstrate progress.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Soa2iWztoEo
ReplyDeleteYoutube video about reporting on US House debate on limiting Trump's war power.
In case you never consider it, it may sound like Congress is focusing on limiting Trump immediate capability to conduct war, those power he got it from whatever been granted to the president from past admins.
By having these limitation, future prez would not be so gungho going around the world for adventure. The prez was as manipulated by others before as he was not being able to be manipulated now....
It is a bit of reverse psychology.
“don’t have a consensus yet”
ReplyDelete!!!!???
Taiwan will return to the fold of motherland during the reign of Xi, PERIOD.
Lots can be said about the whole thing, big happening, theatre only, nothing will change, Trump losing friends, China will renegade once Trump is out of office, but there is part of the razzmazztazz, where nothing will ever get reported, even Xi had forbid any video even from Chinese media, just still image being circulated in socmed, that hour or so private moment inside the Temple of Heaven. Speculation from inside China suggested only three persons inside the inside of the Temple building, Xi, his only daughter and Trump. The saying is, Trump make that trip to privately and personally have a moment of honesty with Xi. Whatever it is, no one will know. Let's see what will happen going forward.
ReplyDeletehttps://x.com/i/status/2054889416997638366
Trump breaks protocol having a toast with Xi
Trump never drinks alcohol as his brother died from it, but as respect for Xi 🇨🇳🇺🇸🫡
Two-State Solution lah, like What Everyone (including Eastern Bully) Say Must Be for Isaac-Falastin.
ReplyDeleteChina has embassies in both Israel and Palestine.
Israel: The Chinese Embassy is located in Tel Aviv.
Palestine: The Chinese Embassy is located in Ramallah.
CCP taking over Taiwan by violent means will not end well for China, even if it is "Victorious".
ReplyDeleteyr mfering fart of tea leave reading
Delete