Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to visit Washington this week for a summit with U.S. President Donald Trump, where he is expected to press the United States to halt arms sales to Taiwan, citing a 1982 joint communiqué between the two nations. According to sources familiar with the upcoming discussions, Xi may emphasize the historical agreement during a visit to the U.S. National Archives as part of his diplomatic efforts.
Taiwan remains a highly sensitive issue for China, which regards the island as part of its territory and has called repeatedly for an end to U.S. arms shipments. Despite the absence of formal diplomatic ties, U.S. law mandates the provision of defensive weapons to Taiwan, a self-governing democracy that rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims.
The anticipated discussions will likely focus on the third of three joint communiqués signed in 1982, in which the United States expressed its intention to gradually reduce arms sales to Taiwan and avoid long-term weapons commitments. However, an accompanying memorandum from then-President Ronald Reagan conditioned this reduction on China’s continued commitment to peacefully resolving differences with Taiwan. Sources suggest that China is also requesting a halt to deliveries of arms already ordered by Taiwan.
Over the past five years, China has intensified military activities surrounding Taiwan, including frequent operational patrols and live missile exercises, reflecting the heightened tensions in the region. China’s official media warned this week that mishandling the Taiwan issue could drive China-U.S. relations toward a “very dangerous situation.”
Xi is scheduled to arrive in Washington on Wednesday, with official talks planned for Thursday and a visit to the National Archives on Friday. A White House official noted that Trump intends to make a decision on a proposed new arms sales package to Taiwan in the near future. During his first term, Trump approved more arms sales to Taiwan than any previous U.S. president, and the pace has continued in his second term.
In December, the Trump administration approved an $11 billion arms deal with Taiwan—the largest ever—but a subsequent $14 billion package has been delayed for months. Following a May summit in Beijing, Trump described the pending package as a “very good negotiating chip” and announced he was holding it in abeyance.
Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry said it is closely monitoring developments in U.S.-China relations and maintains strong communication with Washington. Some sources indicated that China might argue Taiwan is the provocateur undermining stability in the bilateral relationship by altering the status quo.
In exchange for U.S. concessions on Taiwan, China reportedly is offering assistance to pressure Iran regarding the conflict in the Middle East. The United States maintains a “one China policy,” which acknowledges but does not endorse Beijing’s claim over Taiwan. The evolving dynamics surrounding Taiwan are expected to be a focal point in this week’s high-level talks between Xi and Trump.