Trump-Xi Meeting Expected in Mid-May, Former US NSA: No Grand Deal
Former White House National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien noted that US President Trump plans to visit Beijing next month to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping, but he does not believe there will be a "grand deal." A former Pentagon official emphasized that US policy on Taiwan and arms sales is not up for discussion with China.
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- 📰 Published: April 16, 2026 at 08:18
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(CNA, Reporter Liao Han-yuan, Washington, 15th) US President Donald Trump plans to visit Beijing next month. Former White House National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien pointed out today that he does not believe there will be a "grand deal" between the two sides, nor is Chinese President Xi Jinping interested in making one. Former Pentagon Indo-Pacific official Ely Ratner emphasized that US policy regarding Taiwan and arms sales is not up for discussion with the Chinese side, as this is a publicly declared foreign policy.
The Washington-based think tank "Global Taiwan Institute" (GTI) announced the new members of its bipartisan "US-Taiwan Working Group" today. Robert O'Brien, National Security Advisor during Donald Trump's first term, will continue as chairman, and Ely Ratner, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs during Joe Biden's term, will serve as vice-chairman.
Bipartisan former US government officials attended a US-Taiwan relations seminar today, hosted by Washington Post columnist Josh Rogin, to discuss issues such as the Trump-Xi meeting, the impact of the Middle East war, and arms sales to Taiwan.
O'Brien stated: "People talk about the possibility of some sort of grand deal [at the Trump-Xi meeting]. I know Trump, and although we haven't discussed it specifically, I don't think there will be a grand deal. It won't happen now, and Xi Jinping currently has no interest in a grand deal either."
He analyzed that beyond a win-win outcome, the win-win China wants is one where China wins and the US loses, but that scenario will not occur.
O'Brien believes that whether it is the US President, his aides, or policymakers inside and outside the White House, they are all committed to winning when it comes to Taiwan. Trump does not want to be the first president to lose Taiwan; this will not happen to Trump, as he wants to leave a lasting legacy.
Ely Ratner, former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs, pointed out that Trump's top priority should be to emphasize that US policy toward Taiwan is not negotiable with Beijing. Although observing cross-strait dynamics and the region over the long term shows obvious evolution or adjustment in different directions, from a global perspective, US policy on Taiwan and arms sales is not up for discussion with China. This is a policy the US has publicly declared to the world.
Ratner emphasized that Trump must negotiate with China, and relevant moves will challenge the national interests of the US and its allies. Whether it is China selling arms to Iran, or the PLA conducting aggressive and coercive actions against regional countries such as Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines, and Australia, the US must clarify that it will stand with its allies, and Beijing must not coerce US allies without restraint.
In addition to O'Brien and Ratner, the GTI's bipartisan US-Taiwan Working Group brings together an experienced professional team with ruling experience across US political parties and generations in the fields of diplomacy, military, and economics concerning Taiwan. New members include Rush Doshi, former Senior Director for China and Taiwan Affairs at the White House National Security Council; Alexander Gray, former Chief of Staff of the White House National Security Council; former National Security Council advisory committee member Lin Cheng-wei; and former Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs Chen Chern-chyi.
Three current US officials—US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, Deputy Secretary of State Allison Hooker, and NSC Senior Director for Asia Ivan Kanapathy—also previously served as members of GTI's US-Taiwan Working Group from 2022 to 2024.
(CNA, Reporter Liao Han-yuan, Washington, 15th) US President Donald Trump plans to visit Beijing next month. Former White House National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien pointed out today that he does not believe there will be a "grand deal" between the two sides, nor is Chinese President Xi Jinping interested in making one. Former Pentagon Indo-Pacific official Ely Ratner emphasized that US policy regarding Taiwan and arms sales is not up for discussion with the Chinese side, as this is a publicly declared foreign policy.
The Washington-based think tank "Global Taiwan Institute" (GTI) announced the new members of its bipartisan "US-Taiwan Working Group" today. Robert O'Brien, National Security Advisor during Donald Trump's first term, will continue as chairman, and Ely Ratner, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs during Joe Biden's term, will serve as vice-chairman.
Bipartisan former US government officials attended a US-Taiwan relations seminar today, hosted by Washington Post columnist Josh Rogin, to discuss issues such as the Trump-Xi meeting, the impact of the Middle East war, and arms sales to Taiwan.
O'Brien stated: "People talk about the possibility of some sort of grand deal [at the Trump-Xi meeting]. I know Trump, and although we haven't discussed it specifically, I don't think there will be a grand deal. It won't happen now, and Xi Jinping currently has no interest in a grand deal either."
He analyzed that beyond a win-win outcome, the win-win China wants is one where China wins and the US loses, but that scenario will not occur.
O'Brien believes that whether it is the US President, his aides, or policymakers inside and outside the White House, they are all committed to winning when it comes to Taiwan. Trump does not want to be the first president to lose Taiwan; this will not happen to Trump, as he wants to leave a lasting legacy.
Ely Ratner, former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs, pointed out that Trump's top priority should be to emphasize that US policy toward Taiwan is not negotiable with Beijing. Although observing cross-strait dynamics and the region over the long term shows obvious evolution or adjustment in different directions, from a global perspective, US policy on Taiwan and arms sales is not up for discussion with China. This is a policy the US has publicly declared to the world.
Ratner emphasized that Trump must negotiate with China, and relevant moves will challenge the national interests of the US and its allies. Whether it is China selling arms to Iran, or the PLA conducting aggressive and coercive actions against regional countries such as Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines, and Australia, the US must clarify that it will stand with its allies, and Beijing must not coerce US allies without restraint.
In addition to O'Brien and Ratner, the GTI's bipartisan US-Taiwan Working Group brings together an experienced professional team with ruling experience across US political parties and generations in the fields of diplomacy, military, and economics concerning Taiwan. New members include Rush Doshi, former Senior Director for China and Taiwan Affairs at the White House National Security Council; Alexander Gray, former Chief of Staff of the White House National Security Council; former National Security Council advisory committee member Lin Cheng-wei; and former Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs Chen Chern-chyi.
Three current US officials—US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, Deputy Secretary of State Allison Hooker, and NSC Senior Director for Asia Ivan Kanapathy—also previously served as members of GTI's US-Taiwan Working Group from 2022 to 2024.