In the aftermath of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s recent visit to Washington, the issue of Taiwan remained notably subdued during talks with U.S. President Donald Trump, despite the island’s central role in broader U.S.-China relations. Following the meeting, Trump acknowledged that Xi “understands very much” how he feels about Taiwan but did not provide further details on their discussions, indicating the topic was not extensively covered.

Trump’s comments align with the longstanding U.S. one-China policy, which maintains a delicate balance amid complex Sino-American relations. At a state dinner on September 24, Trump referenced the historic cooperation between the United States and China during World War II, highlighting the contributions of the “Flying Tigers,” American volunteer pilots who fought alongside Chinese forces before the U.S. formally entered the war. Xi also praised the wartime alliance, emphasizing the joint effort against Japanese aggression.

However, Taiwan’s authorities quickly challenged narratives emerging from the summit, particularly those that appeared to conflate the People’s Republic of China (PRC) with the wartime Republic of China (ROC). Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council clarified that the PRC, established in 1949, did not exist during World War II and reaffirmed that it was the ROC, now based in Taiwan, which actively fought with the United States. Taiwan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Francois Wu expressed concern about attempts to revise history and diminish the ROC’s contributions.

The White House’s post-summit fact sheet, which omitted direct mention of Taiwan but recalled the wartime U.S.-China alliance, further fueled Taiwan’s protests. Officials warned of Beijing’s efforts to frame the historical narrative in a way that sidelines the ROC’s role, stressing the need for accurate recognition of Taiwan’s historical and current status.

While Trump adopted a relatively ambiguous stance on Taiwan, Xi remained firm, reiterating China’s opposition to “Taiwan independence” and urging the U.S. to handle the issue cautiously. Beijing continues to view Taiwan’s eventual “reunification” as integral to national rejuvenation and has not ruled out the use of force. Xi previously identified Taiwan as a critical red line in U.S.-China relations, warning that mishandling the issue could jeopardize bilateral ties.

Taiwanese officials and the U.S. government have maintained that American policy toward Taiwan remains unchanged. Taiwan’s foreign ministry emphasized that the island’s future should be determined democratically by its own people, free from external interference. Meanwhile, China’s military presence around Taiwan has intensified in recent years, with frequent air and naval incursions, as well as expanded patrols by the China Coast Guard in nearby waters.

The U.S. has delayed a $14 billion arms package to Taiwan, with some analysts interpreting this as part of broader diplomatic leverage in ongoing dialogues between Trump and Xi. Two additional meetings between the two leaders are scheduled for late 2026, including at the APEC summit in Shenzhen and the G-20 in Miami, with expectations that Taiwan-related issues will continue to be managed with caution.

Experts note Taiwan’s strategic importance—not only militarily but also economically, given its dominance in producing advanced semiconductors vital to global technology supply chains. Maintaining deterrence against potential aggression remains a key objective of U.S. defense strategy in the Indo-Pacific region. Observers suggest that while the fundamentals of U.S. Taiwan policy have not shifted, the pace and execution of that policy may be increasingly influenced by the nuances of Trump-Xi diplomacy going forward.