Trump is heading to Beijing for a 3-day state visit that includes a bilateral meeting with Xi Jinping, a state banquet and a working lunch, as Taiwan warns it could be put on the table in wider U.S.-China talks. [1, 2]
The Taiwan issue is prominent ahead of the summit, with Beijing saying it opposes Taiwan independence and regards the island as part of China. Taiwan fears it could be treated as a bargaining chip in negotiations between the two leaders. [3, 2, 1]
Taiwan’s Kinmen Defence Command held a live-fire drill in the Houhu coastal area on Kinmen as Trump headed to Beijing, using Javelin missiles in their first live firing there. Kinmen lies just a few kilometres from Xiamen on the Chinese coast. [2]
Trump said on Monday at the White House that arms sales to Taiwan would be among the issues discussed with Xi. On Tuesday, Taiwanese foreign ministry spokesman Hsiao Kuang-wei said the island was closely monitoring U.S.-China interactions and keeping close contact with Washington. [1]
An SCMP mainland-based analyst said Beijing was in a stronger position to discuss Taiwan this time because the U.S. president needs China’s cooperation on multiple fronts. Guo, a Chinese official cited in the reports, said: “The wheels of history wait for no one. Rejecting the one-China principle will only isolate oneself from the international community.” [4, 3]
The Beijing visit was reported as running from Wednesday to Friday, with the bilateral meeting and state banquet set for Thursday and a working lunch before Trump’s departure on Friday. [1]
