US-China Summit approaching, Middle East commentators widely concerned Taiwan will become a bargaining chip
Ahead of the US-China summit, Middle Eastern media and experts are increasingly concerned that Taiwan may become a bargaining chip between the US and China, and that China may leverage the Middle East situation to pressure the US for concessions on Taiwan.
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- 📰 Published: May 13, 2026 at 09:21
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Cairo, May 12 (CNA correspondent Shih Wan-ching) - US President Donald Trump is scheduled to arrive in Beijing on the 13th for a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Arab media and experts are broadly concerned about whether Taiwan will become a bargaining chip in US-China dealings, and whether China will use the Middle East situation to force the US to make concessions on Taiwan issues, including US arms sales to Taiwan.
Qatar's "Al Jazeera" directly reported that since US arms sales to Taiwan have long been at the core of conflicts between Beijing and Washington, Taiwan acts as a strategic leverage point in the US-China power competition, making the Taiwan issue an important agenda item for this US-China summit.
Al Jazeera further analyzed that the Chinese government views Taiwan as its core interest, and therefore hopes that Trump will reduce his support for Taiwan, especially by decreasing arms sales to Taiwan and weakening statements regarding Taiwan's independence.
Regarding the United States, Al Jazeera pointed out that the US government views Taiwan as an important fulcrum for balancing China in the Indo-Pacific. Therefore, Trump may use Taiwan as a bargaining chip to exchange for cooperation on trade, AI, and tariffs between the two sides.
Independent news organization "Middle East Eye" also mentioned in its report that Taiwan is an unavoidable topic at the US-China summit.
Middle East Eye emphasized that China will use the Middle East situation caused by the US-Israel war against Iran, and rare earth supplies, to pressure the US into making concessions on the Taiwan issue.
Saudi media "Arab News" reported on the 11th that although the Taiwanese government publicly expresses confidence in Taiwan-US relations, it is still concerned that Trump's "transactional diplomacy" might make Taiwan a bargaining chip.
Arab News described Trump as a pragmatic, transaction-oriented diplomat, unlike traditional US presidents who prioritize value-based diplomacy. Therefore, Taiwan might be used by Trump as a bargaining chip to exchange for opportunities for cooperation with China on trade or geopolitics.
An anonymous informed source close to the Egyptian government, who has long observed the Middle East political situation, told CNA that the Arab commentary circle has recently been paying close attention to whether China will exchange the Iran card for the Taiwan card, especially after the recent escalation of the Middle East war, where the US needs China's assistance to suppress Iran. Therefore, China might use this to raise its bargaining power.
The informed source further explained that the US-Iran conflict has made China more strategically valuable and increased China's negotiating position, as China has the opportunity to influence Iran, the Strait of Hormuz, and energy supplies. Therefore, China might want to test Trump's bottom line to see if he will take risks for Taiwan or if he will nod to China, agreeing to exercise restraint on the Taiwan issue.
The informed source also mentioned that, based on geopolitical relations, the views of the Arab commentary circle on the Taiwan issue usually describe it in terms of the strategic balance in the Indo-Pacific war, or core interests and bargaining chips, rather than from the perspective of democratic alliances or the free world.
However, both the informed source and former Egyptian Deputy Foreign Minister Hussein Haridy agreed that the US-Israel war against Iran issue would be the main focus of this US-China summit. The informed source believes that Trump will leverage energy and geopolitical advantages to reach an agreement with Iran through China.
Haridy commented in Egypt's official newspaper "Al Ahram" on the 12th that the US government has been trying to contact the Chinese government to pressure Iran to agree to a solution.
In addition, Haridy specifically described it as "an interesting thing" that at the first US-China summit between Trump and Xi in Trump's second term, held in Busan, South Korea, last October, they did not touch upon Taiwan-related topics at all.
Haridy said, "This shows that both the United States and China are equally eager to set aside traditional geostrategic competitive issues."
However, Haridy also predicted that China will ask Trump not to provide weapons to Taiwan at this US-China summit. Especially since last December, the US only notified Congress of an $11.1 billion arms sales plan to Taiwan, but did not mention another possible arms sales plan exceeding $14 billion. (Editor: Chen Cheng-kung) 1150513
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Qatar's "Al Jazeera" directly reported that since US arms sales to Taiwan have long been at the core of conflicts between Beijing and Washington, Taiwan acts as a strategic leverage point in the US-China power competition, making the Taiwan issue an important agenda item for this US-China summit.
Al Jazeera further analyzed that the Chinese government views Taiwan as its core interest, and therefore hopes that Trump will reduce his support for Taiwan, especially by decreasing arms sales to Taiwan and weakening statements regarding Taiwan's independence.
Regarding the United States, Al Jazeera pointed out that the US government views Taiwan as an important fulcrum for balancing China in the Indo-Pacific. Therefore, Trump may use Taiwan as a bargaining chip to exchange for cooperation on trade, AI, and tariffs between the two sides.
Independent news organization "Middle East Eye" also mentioned in its report that Taiwan is an unavoidable topic at the US-China summit.
Middle East Eye emphasized that China will use the Middle East situation caused by the US-Israel war against Iran, and rare earth supplies, to pressure the US into making concessions on the Taiwan issue.
Saudi media "Arab News" reported on the 11th that although the Taiwanese government publicly expresses confidence in Taiwan-US relations, it is still concerned that Trump's "transactional diplomacy" might make Taiwan a bargaining chip.
Arab News described Trump as a pragmatic, transaction-oriented diplomat, unlike traditional US presidents who prioritize value-based diplomacy. Therefore, Taiwan might be used by Trump as a bargaining chip to exchange for opportunities for cooperation with China on trade or geopolitics.
An anonymous informed source close to the Egyptian government, who has long observed the Middle East political situation, told CNA that the Arab commentary circle has recently been paying close attention to whether China will exchange the Iran card for the Taiwan card, especially after the recent escalation of the Middle East war, where the US needs China's assistance to suppress Iran. Therefore, China might use this to raise its bargaining power.
The informed source further explained that the US-Iran conflict has made China more strategically valuable and increased China's negotiating position, as China has the opportunity to influence Iran, the Strait of Hormuz, and energy supplies. Therefore, China might want to test Trump's bottom line to see if he will take risks for Taiwan or if he will nod to China, agreeing to exercise restraint on the Taiwan issue.
The informed source also mentioned that, based on geopolitical relations, the views of the Arab commentary circle on the Taiwan issue usually describe it in terms of the strategic balance in the Indo-Pacific war, or core interests and bargaining chips, rather than from the perspective of democratic alliances or the free world.
However, both the informed source and former Egyptian Deputy Foreign Minister Hussein Haridy agreed that the US-Israel war against Iran issue would be the main focus of this US-China summit. The informed source believes that Trump will leverage energy and geopolitical advantages to reach an agreement with Iran through China.
Haridy commented in Egypt's official newspaper "Al Ahram" on the 12th that the US government has been trying to contact the Chinese government to pressure Iran to agree to a solution.
In addition, Haridy specifically described it as "an interesting thing" that at the first US-China summit between Trump and Xi in Trump's second term, held in Busan, South Korea, last October, they did not touch upon Taiwan-related topics at all.
Haridy said, "This shows that both the United States and China are equally eager to set aside traditional geostrategic competitive issues."
However, Haridy also predicted that China will ask Trump not to provide weapons to Taiwan at this US-China summit. Especially since last December, the US only notified Congress of an $11.1 billion arms sales plan to Taiwan, but did not mention another possible arms sales plan exceeding $14 billion. (Editor: Chen Cheng-kung) 1150513
Choose to stand with facts. Your every sponsorship is a force for protecting press freedom.
Download CNA's "First-hand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news.
Text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized without authorization.