In this photo released by the Taiwan Presidential Office, Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te speaks during a press conference on “Taiwan-U.S. Economic Prosperity Partnership” in Taipei, Taiwan on Feb. 3, 2026. (Taiwan Presidential Office via AP, File)<\/small><\/p>\n
2026-05-16T13:35:43Z<\/p>\n
Recent comments by U.S. President Donald Trump that arms sales to Taiwan are a \u201cvery good negotiating chip\u201d in the United States\u2019 dealings with China are heightening anxieties on the island democracy that Beijing claims as its own.<\/p>\n
Trump made the comment in a Fox News interview with Bret Baier that aired right after the U.S. president wrapped up a high-stakes visit to China<\/a><\/span> on Friday.<\/p>\n China sees Taiwan as a breakaway province, to be retaken by force if necessary. The U.S., like all countries that have formal ties with Beijing, doesn\u2019t recognize Taiwan as a country but has been the island\u2019s strongest backer and arms supplier.<\/p>\n Trump is now suggesting that is open to negotiation.<\/p>\n Asked if he would approve a $14 billion arms package to Taiwan that has been held up for months, Trump said that\u2019s up to China.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m holding that in abeyance and it depends on China,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s a very good negotiating chip for us, frankly. It\u2019s a lot of weapons.\u201d<\/p>\n The U.S. is bound by its own laws to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself and sees all threats to the island as a matter of grave concern.<\/p>\n By conditioning U.S. arms sales to Taiwan on his negotiations with China, Trump may play into one the island\u2019s \u201cnightmare scenarios,\u201d said William Yang, a Northeast Asia senior analyst for International Crisis Group: that Taiwan, instead of being at the negotiating table, is on the menu.<\/p>\n Although Trump didn\u2019t say specifically what he would want from China in return for denying Taiwan the weapons, he has been pressing Beijing to buy more American goods and to help put pressure on Iran.<\/p>\n Trump and the U.S. Congress already approved in December a separate $11 billion arms sales package<\/a><\/span> to Taiwan. Beijing reacted furiously by staging live fire drills<\/a><\/span> around the island.<\/p>\n