President Donald Trump said he is undecided about whether he will approve a planned $14 billion arms sale to Taiwan, casting doubt on U.S. support for the self-governing island that China has committed to controlling.
Trump’s comments follow a two-day state visit to China, where he met with the country’s president, Xi Jinping, to discuss economic cooperation between the two global rivals, as well as a host of international issues, including the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran.
"I may do it. I may not do it," he told Fox News' Bret Baier in an interview that was recorded in Beijing and aired after he left. "We’re not looking to have wars. 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.’"
“It’s a very good negotiating chip for us, frankly,” he said. “It’s a lot of weapons.”
Read more: Trump’s China Trip Underscores How Power Has Shifted East
Taiwan has been waiting for months for Trump to approve a $14 billion weapons package that would help it defend against a Chinese military operation to capture the island. The package includes air-defense systems and sophisticated missiles. Trump approved an $11 billion arms package last year, prompting increased Chinese military drills around Taiwan.
But Trump’s comments suggest his Administration’s support for Taiwan, which China has threatened to take control of by force if necessary, is negotiable, and may be softened in return for economic deals with Beijing.
The U.S. does not formally recognize Beijing’s claim to Taiwan, nor does it recognize Taiwan’s independence. It has, however, supported the island for decades through defense assistance.
Both Democrats and Republicans in Congress support arming Taiwan to protect itself against a potential Chinese invasion, and a bipartisan group of Senators called on the Trump Administration ahead of the visit to adhere to a 1979 U.S. law that requires the U.S. to “make available to Taiwan such defense articles and defense services in such quantity as may be necessary to enable Taiwan to maintain a sufficient self-defense capability.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio insisted U.S. policy toward the self-governing democracy remains “unchanged” in an interview with NBC during the visit.
He warned it would be a “terrible mistake” for China were it to take Taiwan by force. “From our perspective, any forced change in the status quo and the situation that’s there now would be bad for both countries,” said Rubio. “There would be repercussions for that globally, not just from the United States.”
Taiwan was top of the agenda during the visit, according to statements from both governments. Xi told Trump during the visit that Taiwan “is the most important issue in China-U.S. relations” on the first day of the visit, according to an official readout of his remarks published by China’s state news agency. If not resolved, Xi added that it would lead to “clashes and even conflicts, putting the entire relationship in great jeopardy.”
Taiwan responded to Trump’s comments by making a public plea for the weapons sale to go ahead, calling China the "sole destabilizing factor" in the Indo-Pacific region.
"Furthermore, military sales between Taiwan and the U.S. are not only a reflection of the U.S. security commitment to Taiwan as stipulated in the Taiwan Relations Act, but also serve as a mutual deterrence against regional threats," said Taiwan President Lai Ching-te's spokesperson Karen Kuo in a statement, Reuters reported.
“We are deeply grateful for the longstanding support the United States has provided to our country,” she said.
In the interview with Fox News, host Bret Baier asked Trump: "Should the people of Taiwan feel more or less secure after your meetings with President Xi?"
"Neutral. This has been going on for years," Trump answered, noting that U.S. policy regarding Taiwan has not changed.
"Nothing's changed. I will say this: 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."
Trump’s apparent softening of support for Taiwan comes at a time when his war with Iran has depleted U.S. stocks of sophisticated weaponry that would be essential to defending the island in the event of a Chinese attack.
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