China’s president Xi Jinping is reportedly aiming to persuade U.S. President Donald Trump to continue delaying a proposed $14 billion arms sale to Taiwan during their upcoming meeting in Washington. The arms package, which includes missiles, anti-drone weaponry, and air-defense systems, has been a point of significant tension between Beijing and Washington due to China’s claim over the self-governed island and Taiwan’s reliance on U.S. military support to counter potential threats from Beijing.

China views any arms sales to Taiwan as a possible trigger for conflict between the two nuclear-armed powers. Xi previously warned Trump that mishandling Taiwan-related issues could have "extremely dangerous" consequences for U.S.-China relations. Experts suggest that Beijing sees the delay of arms sales as a critical issue in preserving stability while exerting diplomatic leverage.

President Trump has characterized the proposed arms deal as a negotiation tool with China. Since his summit with Xi in Beijing in May, Trump has refrained from approving the package and has reduced public mentions of Taiwan by administration officials, including notably Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. These moves are seen by analysts as concessions aimed at improving ties with Beijing amid broader strategic considerations, such as urging China to pressure Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz for global energy security.

For Taiwan, the delay poses challenges to its defense strategy. President Lai Ching-te has pushed for increased military spending and emphasized the need for U.S. weapons to bolster the island’s security. Prolonged postponements risk slowing Taiwan’s acquisition of critical defense capabilities, especially as military hardware remains in high demand globally. Experts note that China may be using these delays strategically to maintain a favorable balance of power.

Within the U.S., both Republican and Democratic lawmakers are expected to pressure the administration to approve arms sales after the summit. However, Taiwan faces uncertainty due to the Trump administration’s relatively unpredictable, top-down decision-making style, complicating Taipei’s efforts to influence U.S. policy. Although Trump approved approximately $18 billion in arms sales to Taiwan during his first term amid a hawkish stance on Beijing, his approach has shifted in his second term toward pragmatism and a partial retreat from trade hostilities.

Despite diplomatic and military uncertainties, Taiwan’s security relationship with the United States remains active. U.S. military advisers were notably present during Taiwan’s recent Han Kuang military exercises, and Taiwanese officials describe ongoing cooperation as robust. Taiwan’s role as a key U.S. trading partner has also grown; it recently surpassed China as the third-largest source of U.S. imports, largely due to semiconductors and high-tech equipment vital to the American artificial intelligence sector.

While President Trump has publicly criticized Taiwan’s semiconductor industry, claiming—without evidence—that chip-making technology was stolen from the U.S., experts highlight the difficulty of replacing Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company’s (TSMC) dense supply networks and engineering talent. TSMC is expanding its U.S. operations with a $265 billion investment in Arizona, but Taiwan’s entrenched position in the global semiconductor supply chain persists.

Analysts note that, despite shifting political administrations, the economic interdependence between the U.S. and Taiwan—particularly in technology and trade—remains a stable foundation underpinning their relationship, even as diplomatic complexities surrounding arms sales continue to unfold.