May 16, 2026, 07:51May 16, 2026, 07:51
Passes the ball to China: Donald Trump.Image: keystone
US President Donald Trump sees his pending decision on further arms sales to the island of Taiwan, which is claimed by China, as an effective means of exerting pressure on Beijing. He’s still leaving it up in the air, “it depends on China,” Trump told Fox News. “To be honest, it is a very good trump card for us in negotiations.” It involves a lot of weapons, says Trump about the deal worth 14 billion US dollars (the equivalent of around 12 billion euros).
Trump had previously said during his flight back to the USA from Beijing that he would make a decision in the near future. However, he would first have to talk to Taiwan about it. The US Congress had already pre-approved the latest arms deal with Taiwan in January 2025.
China opposes such arms sales because it claims Taiwan as its own, even though the island republic has an independent and democratic government. Taiwan was never part of the Communist People’s Republic, founded in 1949. Nevertheless, China wants to annex Taiwan. Beijing has already threatened to use the military if this does not work peacefully. The United States has long supported Taiwan’s efforts to modernize its armed forces and strengthen defense capabilities.
Purchases for Taiwan important for stability
Taiwan’s Vice Foreign Minister Chen Ming-chi said US arms sales to Taiwan “have always been a cornerstone of peace and stability in the region.” The US stance on Taiwan has not changed, so Taiwan’s position on arms sales has not changed. But it is also crucial that Taiwan itself shows its determination to defend itself and is prepared to invest resources in expanding its defense. Taiwan will continue to communicate with the US to gain more clarity.
During his talks with Trump in Beijing on Thursday, China’s head of state and party leader Xi Jinping warned of possible conflicts with the USA if the Taiwan issue was handled poorly. This could put China-US relations in an “extremely dangerous situation,” he said.
Trump emphasized in the interview with Fox News that he had spoken to Xi about the issue for a long time. Taiwan has always been the most important thing for China’s head of state and party. Trump said he doesn’t believe “that they will do anything” as long as he is in office – probably with a view to possible military action by Beijing against Taiwan. At the same time, the US President emphasized that he wanted everything to stay as it currently is.
Why China senses Taiwan’s independence efforts
The Democratic Progressive Party has been in power in Taipei since 2016. Because Taiwan independence is part of its program, Beijing views the government as separatists.
However, President Lai Ching-te declares that he will not seek formal independence because, in his view, the island nation with its 23 million inhabitants is already essentially an independent country. Taiwan’s opposition, which has a majority in parliament and advocates more exchanges with China, recently put forward its own proposal for an extensive special defense budget that includes further US arms purchases. (sda/dpa)
Video: watson/nina bürge