Michael Kovrig on Trump-Xi Meeting: US Must Not Halt Arms Sales to Taiwan
Former Canadian diplomat Michael Kovrig warned that in a potential meeting between US and Chinese leaders, the US should not halt its arms sales plan to Taiwan for a short-term agreement. He pointed out that such a concession could lead to a strategic failure by bolstering China's narrative.
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- 📰 Published: May 14, 2026 at 23:55
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Paris, May 14 (CNA) - As U.S. President Trump meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping, former Canadian diplomat and geopolitical advisor Michael Kovrig says that if the U.S. focuses only on a short-term deal, it could evolve into a strategic failure, with the risk of fueling the Chinese narrative. He also stressed that Trump absolutely should not suspend the arms sales plan to Taiwan.
France's L'Express magazine reports that there are numerous disagreements between the U.S. and China, including trade, artificial intelligence (AI), the war in Iran, and the Taiwan issue. Xi seeks to stabilize bilateral relations and try to change the U.S. stance on the Taiwan issue, while Trump's primary goal is to reach a deal that brings tangible political benefits.
Michael Kovrig, a former Canadian diplomat who was once detained by China, is a senior advisor on Asia-Pacific affairs for the International Crisis Group and currently the author of the 'Strategic Narratives' newsletter on Substack.
In an exclusive interview with L'Express, he said that a 'grand' deal might bring a brief personal victory for Trump but would be a disaster for the United States, risking the amplification of the Chinese Communist Party's propaganda and narrative.
Kovrig believes that with the first visit of a U.S. president to China in nearly 10 years, both sides want to demonstrate strength, influence, and a triumphant posture, while also laying the groundwork for a meeting later this year. For both leaders, this meeting is an opportunity to enhance personal prestige, but it also carries the risk of appearing weak.
He said: 'We must pay attention to the vocabulary used by both sides, especially Trump, because Beijing wants him to adopt some of the wording of the Chinese regime. What is certain is that the core tension of this summit lies in the divergence of the two leaders' perspectives. Trump sees this meeting as an opportunity to reach a short-term agreement, while Xi hopes to use this moment to gradually change the strategic narrative of Sino-U.S. relations.'
Kovrig said that Xi would not make significant concessions without getting more in return. China is accustomed to exchanging limited economic measures for major strategic concessions, such as getting Trump to make verbal concessions on the Taiwan issue, which could lead to serious strategic consequences, or reaching an agreement with Xi that could undermine allies' confidence.
He stated: 'Trump should not return to the U.S. with a specific dollar figure, but should make Xi understand that coercion has its costs, that Western allies are united, and that the U.S. will hold its red lines. Washington should have coordinated with its allies before the visit. Furthermore, Trump must not suspend the arms sales plan to Taiwan and should refuse any change in wording regarding Taiwan's independence.'
Kovrig said that while Trump should respect Chinese diplomatic etiquette, he must also reject CCP propaganda terms like 'great changes unseen in a century' and 'new world order,' otherwise it could be interpreted as endorsing the Chinese narrative.
He pointed out that since Trump's return to the White House in January 2025, several Western leaders from Canada, the UK, Germany, France, Australia, and Spain have visited China in succession to stabilize or improve relations with China and reduce dependence on the U.S. These reactions stem from Trump's arbitrary tariffs on allies, threats to annex Canada and Greenland, military actions against Venezuela and Iran without consulting allies, remarks that seem to abandon Ukraine or withdraw from NATO, and his display of contempt for partners.
Kovrig said: 'Trump attacks his own allies, pushing them into Xi Jinping's arms, giving the CCP a huge diplomatic gift. This also gives Xi a certain legitimacy and international recognition simply by playing the role of a safety valve without making any concessions.'
He also stated that, taken individually, the Western leaders' visits to China each had their own reasons, but cumulatively they are counterproductive. 'When allies separately accept the CCP's narrative about China's eventual rise to hegemony, it undermines the credibility of collective Western resistance, allowing Chinese officials to turn this dynamic into a considerable propaganda operation.' (Editor: Wei Shu) 1150514
France's L'Express magazine reports that there are numerous disagreements between the U.S. and China, including trade, artificial intelligence (AI), the war in Iran, and the Taiwan issue. Xi seeks to stabilize bilateral relations and try to change the U.S. stance on the Taiwan issue, while Trump's primary goal is to reach a deal that brings tangible political benefits.
Michael Kovrig, a former Canadian diplomat who was once detained by China, is a senior advisor on Asia-Pacific affairs for the International Crisis Group and currently the author of the 'Strategic Narratives' newsletter on Substack.
In an exclusive interview with L'Express, he said that a 'grand' deal might bring a brief personal victory for Trump but would be a disaster for the United States, risking the amplification of the Chinese Communist Party's propaganda and narrative.
Kovrig believes that with the first visit of a U.S. president to China in nearly 10 years, both sides want to demonstrate strength, influence, and a triumphant posture, while also laying the groundwork for a meeting later this year. For both leaders, this meeting is an opportunity to enhance personal prestige, but it also carries the risk of appearing weak.
He said: 'We must pay attention to the vocabulary used by both sides, especially Trump, because Beijing wants him to adopt some of the wording of the Chinese regime. What is certain is that the core tension of this summit lies in the divergence of the two leaders' perspectives. Trump sees this meeting as an opportunity to reach a short-term agreement, while Xi hopes to use this moment to gradually change the strategic narrative of Sino-U.S. relations.'
Kovrig said that Xi would not make significant concessions without getting more in return. China is accustomed to exchanging limited economic measures for major strategic concessions, such as getting Trump to make verbal concessions on the Taiwan issue, which could lead to serious strategic consequences, or reaching an agreement with Xi that could undermine allies' confidence.
He stated: 'Trump should not return to the U.S. with a specific dollar figure, but should make Xi understand that coercion has its costs, that Western allies are united, and that the U.S. will hold its red lines. Washington should have coordinated with its allies before the visit. Furthermore, Trump must not suspend the arms sales plan to Taiwan and should refuse any change in wording regarding Taiwan's independence.'
Kovrig said that while Trump should respect Chinese diplomatic etiquette, he must also reject CCP propaganda terms like 'great changes unseen in a century' and 'new world order,' otherwise it could be interpreted as endorsing the Chinese narrative.
He pointed out that since Trump's return to the White House in January 2025, several Western leaders from Canada, the UK, Germany, France, Australia, and Spain have visited China in succession to stabilize or improve relations with China and reduce dependence on the U.S. These reactions stem from Trump's arbitrary tariffs on allies, threats to annex Canada and Greenland, military actions against Venezuela and Iran without consulting allies, remarks that seem to abandon Ukraine or withdraw from NATO, and his display of contempt for partners.
Kovrig said: 'Trump attacks his own allies, pushing them into Xi Jinping's arms, giving the CCP a huge diplomatic gift. This also gives Xi a certain legitimacy and international recognition simply by playing the role of a safety valve without making any concessions.'
He also stated that, taken individually, the Western leaders' visits to China each had their own reasons, but cumulatively they are counterproductive. 'When allies separately accept the CCP's narrative about China's eventual rise to hegemony, it undermines the credibility of collective Western resistance, allowing Chinese officials to turn this dynamic into a considerable propaganda operation.' (Editor: Wei Shu) 1150514