WASHINGTON, May 11 (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that he would discuss the topic of arms sales to Taiwan with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing this week.
“I’m going to have that discussion with President Xi,” Trump told reporters at the White House when asked about Washington’s longstanding support for Taiwan’s defense. “President Xi would like us not to, and I’ll have that discussion. That’s one of the many things I’ll be talking about.”
China claims the democratically governed island as its own, a contention Taiwan rejects. Washington follows a “one China policy,” acknowledging China’s position but taking no view on Taiwan’s sovereignty. The U.S. is Taiwan’s most important international backer and is bound by law to help with its defense.
The arms transfers are a long source of friction in U.S.-China relations. In December, Trump announced the largest ever U.S. weapons package for the island, more than $11 billion.
In recent days, the Republican president’s aides have urged Taiwan to commit even more money to its defense, and a U.S. official said the Trump-Xi summit signaled no change in policy towards Taiwan.
Speaking to reporters, Trump repeated his doubt that tension over the island would erupt during his presidency.
“I don’t think it’ll happen,” Trump said, without specifying further exactly what he meant. “I think we’ll be fine. I have a very good relationship with President Xi. He knows I don’t want that to happen.”
(Reporting by Nandita Bose and Trevor Hunnicutt; editing by Susan Heavey and Michelle Nichols )
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