Randall Schriver on Trump-Xi Meeting: Expects Trump to Focus on Trade, Represent US-Taiwan Interests
Former US defense official Randall Schriver predicted that President Trump would focus on US-China economic and trade issues during his upcoming visit to Beijing. While President Xi Jinping might raise other topics like Taiwan, Schriver expressed confidence that Trump would represent US-Taiwan interests, as both sides share common interests in most situations.
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- 📰 Published: May 7, 2026 at 08:21
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Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Hou Tzu-ying, Washington, May 6th exclusive report) US President Trump is expected to visit Beijing next week to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Former US defense official Randall Schriver said today that Trump is expected to focus on US-China economic and trade issues, while Xi Jinping might raise other topics such as Taiwan; Schriver is confident that Trump will represent US-Taiwan interests, and in most cases, both sides share common interests.
Trump (Donald Trump) is expected to visit Beijing from May 14th to 15th to meet with Xi Jinping. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio responded to media inquiries yesterday, stating that he is certain Taiwan will be one of the topics discussed at the Trump-Xi meeting.
Randall G. Schriver, former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs (now called the Department of War) during Trump's 1.0 era and currently the chairman of the US think tank 'Institute for Indo-Pacific Security' (IIPS), attended a forum in Washington today and was interviewed by Taiwanese media afterwards. Regarding the Trump-Xi meeting scheduled for next week, he said that, to his understanding, Trump hopes the focus of the talks will be on economic and trade issues. After their meeting in Busan, South Korea last year, both sides agreed to a one-year trade truce.
Schriver pointed out that Trump hopes to establish a more lasting mechanism covering issues such as China's rare earth exports; the Chinese side may also want to discuss issues such as tariffs and the shipbuilding industry. Currently, inter-agency work in the United States is indeed focused on trade and economic areas.
Schriver also noted that Xi Jinping might raise other topics such as Taiwan. According to Chinese media reports, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi mentioned Taiwan as the 'biggest risk' during a recent phone call with Rubio. Schriver believes that Trump will also be prepared to deal with this.
Schriver pointed out that Trump tends to have 'real conversations' at the negotiating table and does not read from a script. However, he observed that Trump's support for Taiwan has remained strong from his first term to his second term, including arms sales and security assistance to Taiwan, and support for expanding Taiwan's international space, investment, and trade.
Therefore, Schriver is confident that Trump 'will not only represent Taiwan but also US-Taiwan interests, and in most cases, these are common interests for both sides.'
The Washington think tank 'Special Competitive Studies Project' and Taiwan's National Science and Technology Council's think tank 'Center for Science, Democracy, and Society Research' (DSET) jointly held a forum today to explore challenges posed by China from a Taiwanese perspective. Schriver served as a speaker in one of the sessions. This forum was one of the side events of the AI+ Expo scheduled for the 7th.
Schriver stated at the forum that when thinking about technological competition and breaking it down into different components, he considers three things: how to hinder China's technological progress, how to maintain one's own lead, and technological and economic security. All three objectives require close cooperation with partners and allies, and among these partners and allies, Taiwan is at the top of the list.
Representative Yu Ta-tsai, Taiwan's representative to the US, delivered a speech at the forum, stating that Taiwan is a force for good. 'The field of AI is crucial for all of us... we must set relevant standards to ensure AI becomes a force for good.'
Other attendees at the forum included Taiwan's Deputy Minister of Digital Development Yang Chia-ling, as well as think tank experts, scholars, and industry representatives. (Editor: Chang Chih-hsuan) 1150507
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(Central News Agency reporter Hou Tzu-ying, Washington, May 6th exclusive report) US President Trump is expected to visit Beijing next week to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Former US defense official Randall Schriver said today that Trump is expected to focus on US-China economic and trade issues, while Xi Jinping might raise other topics such as Taiwan; Schriver is confident that Trump will represent US-Taiwan interests, and in most cases, both sides share common interests.
Trump (Donald Trump) is expected to visit Beijing from May 14th to 15th to meet with Xi Jinping. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio responded to media inquiries yesterday, stating that he is certain Taiwan will be one of the topics discussed at the Trump-Xi meeting.
Randall G. Schriver, former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs (now called the Department of War) during Trump's 1.0 era and currently the chairman of the US think tank 'Institute for Indo-Pacific Security' (IIPS), attended a forum in Washington today and was interviewed by Taiwanese media afterwards. Regarding the Trump-Xi meeting scheduled for next week, he said that, to his understanding, Trump hopes the focus of the talks will be on economic and trade issues. After their meeting in Busan, South Korea last year, both sides agreed to a one-year trade truce.
Schriver pointed out that Trump hopes to establish a more lasting mechanism covering issues such as China's rare earth exports; the Chinese side may also want to discuss issues such as tariffs and the shipbuilding industry. Currently, inter-agency work in the United States is indeed focused on trade and economic areas.
Schriver also noted that Xi Jinping might raise other topics such as Taiwan. According to Chinese media reports, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi mentioned Taiwan as the 'biggest risk' during a recent phone call with Rubio. Schriver believes that Trump will also be prepared to deal with this.
Schriver pointed out that Trump tends to have 'real conversations' at the negotiating table and does not read from a script. However, he observed that Trump's support for Taiwan has remained strong from his first term to his second term, including arms sales and security assistance to Taiwan, and support for expanding Taiwan's international space, investment, and trade.
Therefore, Schriver is confident that Trump 'will not only represent Taiwan but also US-Taiwan interests, and in most cases, these are common interests for both sides.'
The Washington think tank 'Special Competitive Studies Project' and Taiwan's National Science and Technology Council's think tank 'Center for Science, Democracy, and Society Research' (DSET) jointly held a forum today to explore challenges posed by China from a Taiwanese perspective. Schriver served as a speaker in one of the sessions. This forum was one of the side events of the AI+ Expo scheduled for the 7th.
Schriver stated at the forum that when thinking about technological competition and breaking it down into different components, he considers three things: how to hinder China's technological progress, how to maintain one's own lead, and technological and economic security. All three objectives require close cooperation with partners and allies, and among these partners and allies, Taiwan is at the top of the list.
Representative Yu Ta-tsai, Taiwan's representative to the US, delivered a speech at the forum, stating that Taiwan is a force for good. 'The field of AI is crucial for all of us... we must set relevant standards to ensure AI becomes a force for good.'
Other attendees at the forum included Taiwan's Deputy Minister of Digital Development Yang Chia-ling, as well as think tank experts, scholars, and industry representatives. (Editor: Chang Chih-hsuan) 1150507
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship you make is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency 'First-hand News' APP to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized without authorization.