Trump-Xi Meeting Scholars: Trump Made No Concessions on Taiwan, Urge Swift Arms Sales
Following the Trump-Xi meeting, U.S. scholars analyzed that while there were pre-meeting concerns that Trump might concede on the Taiwan issue, this did not happen, which is likely the best outcome for Taiwan. They argue Trump should approve more arms sales to Taiwan before Xi Jinping's visit to the U.S., or it could have a negative impact on Taiwan.
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- 📰 Published: May 16, 2026 at 08:23
- 🔍 Collected: May 16, 2026 at 08:31 (8 min after Published)
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Central News Agency Message
(Central News Agency reporter Hou Tzu-ying, Washington, 15th) Following the conclusion of the Trump-Xi meeting, American scholars analyzed that although there were pre-meeting concerns that President Trump might make concessions on the Taiwan issue or modify wording related to Taiwan, none of this occurred, which could be the best possible outcome for Taiwan. They believe Trump should approve more arms sales to Taiwan before Xi Jinping's visit to the U.S., otherwise, it could have a significant impact on Taiwan.
U.S. President Donald Trump, speaking to the media aboard Air Force One on his way back to the U.S. after his visit to Beijing today, said that he and Chinese President Xi Jinping 'talked a lot' about the Taiwan issue, but he made no commitments to Xi on the matter.
Trump noted that Xi 'does not want to see [Taiwan] strive for independence, because that would be a very serious confrontation.' He said he did not comment on this, but just listened to the other side.
When asked about U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, Trump said the two had discussed the issue and that he would make a decision on it very soon. He also added that he would speak with 'the people who are currently governing Taiwan,' without specifying who he was referring to.
Trump also revealed that when Xi asked him today if the U.S. would defend Taiwan, he replied, 'I don't talk about that.' Trump emphasized, 'Only one person knows (the answer), and that's me.'
● Xi Took the Opportunity to Urge the U.S. to Reduce Arms Sales to Taiwan; Trump Made No Concessions on the Taiwan Issue
Zack Cooper, a senior fellow and expert on Asian security issues at the Washington-based think tank American Enterprise Institute (AEI), told a Central News Agency reporter in a video interview today that he would have preferred Trump to state clearly that he would intervene if Xi took military action against Taiwan, but if he didn't do that, the next best response was to insist on not revealing his intentions.
Before the Trump-Xi meeting, there were concerns that Trump might be prepared to make concessions on the issue of arms sales to Taiwan or change Washington's wording on Taiwan, but Cooper observed, 'In fact, none of these things happened.' He believes this is 'good news' for Taiwan. While it may not make Taipei ecstatic, in his view, 'this was probably the best possible outcome.'
Bonnie Glaser, director of the Indo-Pacific Program at the Washington-based think tank The German Marshall Fund (GMF), analyzed the Trump-Xi meeting in another video press conference this morning, stating that it was likely 'the most detailed conversation ever between U.S. and Chinese leaders on the issue of U.S. arms sales to Taiwan.'
Glaser analyzed that Xi may have linked U.S. arms sales to Taiwan with encouraging Taiwan independence and saw this as an opportunity to urge the U.S. to delay or reduce arms sales.
● Washington Should Approve More Arms Sales to Taiwan As Soon As Possible, Otherwise It Could Impact Taiwan
Given that Trump has invited Xi for a return visit to the U.S. in September, both Cooper and Glaser believe that Beijing is likely to use the opportunity to increase pressure to prevent the U.S. from announcing a new wave of arms sales to Taiwan before then.
Cooper said he hopes that in the next month or two, Trump will approve one or more arms sales to Taiwan. If Trump does not decide to move forward with the arms sales in the short term, the chances of them being finalized in the future will decrease; Trump and Xi may not only meet again in September but also possibly in November and December.
He said, 'We now have a very short window, probably before August, to get another wave of arms sales through.' If that doesn't happen, he would not be surprised to see no new U.S. arms sales announcements from September to the end of the year.
Glaser warned that if the U.S. does not announce any arms sales to Taiwan in the coming months, especially before another potential summit between the U.S. and Chinese leaders, 'it will be seen as a victory for China.' This could also have 'serious implications' for Taiwan, including Taiwan's confidence in the U.S., and Taiwan's preparations and efforts to strengthen deterrence and enhance its combat capabilities to counter a possible Chinese invasion.
The last time the U.S. announced an arms sale to Taiwan was last December, approving a package worth over $11.1 billion (about NT$350 billion). Before Trump's visit to China this time, several bipartisan members of the U.S. Congress sent a letter to Trump, urging him to promptly advance a long-delayed $14 billion arms sale package to Taiwan.
● Scholars Estimate Low Probability of Trump-Lai Call Regarding Trump's Remark to Speak with 'the People Governing Taiwan'
As for Trump's remark that he will speak with 'the people who are currently governing Taiwan,' Glaser said that although Trump did not mention Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te's name, she personally believes a conversation between Trump and Lai is unlikely to happen.
Cooper, on the other hand, said he tends not to interpret Trump's remarks literally but sees them as a signal of his thinking on certain issues. 'I find it hard to imagine President Trump breaking precedent and calling President Lai directly.' 'Could he pass on a letter or take a similar form of action? Perhaps.' (Editor: Chen Hui-ping) 1150516
(Central News Agency reporter Hou Tzu-ying, Washington, 15th) Following the conclusion of the Trump-Xi meeting, American scholars analyzed that although there were pre-meeting concerns that President Trump might make concessions on the Taiwan issue or modify wording related to Taiwan, none of this occurred, which could be the best possible outcome for Taiwan. They believe Trump should approve more arms sales to Taiwan before Xi Jinping's visit to the U.S., otherwise, it could have a significant impact on Taiwan.
U.S. President Donald Trump, speaking to the media aboard Air Force One on his way back to the U.S. after his visit to Beijing today, said that he and Chinese President Xi Jinping 'talked a lot' about the Taiwan issue, but he made no commitments to Xi on the matter.
Trump noted that Xi 'does not want to see [Taiwan] strive for independence, because that would be a very serious confrontation.' He said he did not comment on this, but just listened to the other side.
When asked about U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, Trump said the two had discussed the issue and that he would make a decision on it very soon. He also added that he would speak with 'the people who are currently governing Taiwan,' without specifying who he was referring to.
Trump also revealed that when Xi asked him today if the U.S. would defend Taiwan, he replied, 'I don't talk about that.' Trump emphasized, 'Only one person knows (the answer), and that's me.'
● Xi Took the Opportunity to Urge the U.S. to Reduce Arms Sales to Taiwan; Trump Made No Concessions on the Taiwan Issue
Zack Cooper, a senior fellow and expert on Asian security issues at the Washington-based think tank American Enterprise Institute (AEI), told a Central News Agency reporter in a video interview today that he would have preferred Trump to state clearly that he would intervene if Xi took military action against Taiwan, but if he didn't do that, the next best response was to insist on not revealing his intentions.
Before the Trump-Xi meeting, there were concerns that Trump might be prepared to make concessions on the issue of arms sales to Taiwan or change Washington's wording on Taiwan, but Cooper observed, 'In fact, none of these things happened.' He believes this is 'good news' for Taiwan. While it may not make Taipei ecstatic, in his view, 'this was probably the best possible outcome.'
Bonnie Glaser, director of the Indo-Pacific Program at the Washington-based think tank The German Marshall Fund (GMF), analyzed the Trump-Xi meeting in another video press conference this morning, stating that it was likely 'the most detailed conversation ever between U.S. and Chinese leaders on the issue of U.S. arms sales to Taiwan.'
Glaser analyzed that Xi may have linked U.S. arms sales to Taiwan with encouraging Taiwan independence and saw this as an opportunity to urge the U.S. to delay or reduce arms sales.
● Washington Should Approve More Arms Sales to Taiwan As Soon As Possible, Otherwise It Could Impact Taiwan
Given that Trump has invited Xi for a return visit to the U.S. in September, both Cooper and Glaser believe that Beijing is likely to use the opportunity to increase pressure to prevent the U.S. from announcing a new wave of arms sales to Taiwan before then.
Cooper said he hopes that in the next month or two, Trump will approve one or more arms sales to Taiwan. If Trump does not decide to move forward with the arms sales in the short term, the chances of them being finalized in the future will decrease; Trump and Xi may not only meet again in September but also possibly in November and December.
He said, 'We now have a very short window, probably before August, to get another wave of arms sales through.' If that doesn't happen, he would not be surprised to see no new U.S. arms sales announcements from September to the end of the year.
Glaser warned that if the U.S. does not announce any arms sales to Taiwan in the coming months, especially before another potential summit between the U.S. and Chinese leaders, 'it will be seen as a victory for China.' This could also have 'serious implications' for Taiwan, including Taiwan's confidence in the U.S., and Taiwan's preparations and efforts to strengthen deterrence and enhance its combat capabilities to counter a possible Chinese invasion.
The last time the U.S. announced an arms sale to Taiwan was last December, approving a package worth over $11.1 billion (about NT$350 billion). Before Trump's visit to China this time, several bipartisan members of the U.S. Congress sent a letter to Trump, urging him to promptly advance a long-delayed $14 billion arms sale package to Taiwan.
● Scholars Estimate Low Probability of Trump-Lai Call Regarding Trump's Remark to Speak with 'the People Governing Taiwan'
As for Trump's remark that he will speak with 'the people who are currently governing Taiwan,' Glaser said that although Trump did not mention Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te's name, she personally believes a conversation between Trump and Lai is unlikely to happen.
Cooper, on the other hand, said he tends not to interpret Trump's remarks literally but sees them as a signal of his thinking on certain issues. 'I find it hard to imagine President Trump breaking precedent and calling President Lai directly.' 'Could he pass on a letter or take a similar form of action? Perhaps.' (Editor: Chen Hui-ping) 1150516