Experts: Xi Jinping's Harsh Wording on Taiwan May Show Trump Made No Concessions

(CNA, Beijing, 14th, Comprehensive Foreign Report) With U.S. President Donald Trump on a state visit to China, experts point out that Chinese President Xi Jinping's stern warning to Trump on the Taiwan issue during their meeting may indicate that Trump made no concessions.

Referring to Taiwan, Xi stated, "The Taiwan issue is the most important issue in China-U.S. relations." If handled well, the overall relationship between the two countries can remain stable. If not handled well, the two countries will collide or even conflict, pushing the entire China-U.S. relationship into a very dangerous situation.

The Associated Press reported that William Yang, an analyst at the Brussels-based non-governmental organization International Crisis Group, said that if the U.S. were to make any major concessions on the Taiwan issue, it would have been reflected in Beijing's official summary.

Yang pointed out, "The absence of such a narrative in the summary, coupled with the relatively harsh tone from Xi, implies that Trump likely did not make concessions on the Taiwan issue in principle."

Sung Wen-ti, a Taipei-based analyst at the Atlantic Council think tank, believes that Xi's warning of a potential conflict means Taiwan remains the Chinese government's biggest bottom line.

Sung said that Taiwan is a key issue that defines the identity of the U.S.-China relationship. "If the Taiwan issue is handled properly, we are friends; if not, we could quickly become enemies." (Translation: Hung Chi-yuan) 1150514