Trump Positions Taiwan Arms Sales as Negotiating Leverage

In a Fox News interview aired after a U.S. visit to China, President Donald Trump said $14 billion arms package for Taiwan is “a very good negotiating chip for us, frankly. It’s a lot of weapons,” and that approval “depends on China.” He said sale could be held in abeyance while negotiations proceed, prompting anxiety on the island.

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U.S. law requires United States to provide Taiwan with capabilities, unchanged. Congress approved an $11 billion arms sale in December, while larger $14 billion package remains pending. Trump urged Taiwan’s semiconductor firms to shift production to United States, calling the move “the greatest thing you can do.” TSMC has pledged a $165 billion investment in an Arizona campus, part of a $250 billion trade commitment that includes Taiwanese chip sector investment. Taiwan produces more than 90 % of the world’s most advanced semiconductor chips, underscoring the sector’s strategic importance.

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Presidential Office Spokesperson Karen Kuo said “the consistent U.S. policy and position toward Taiwan remain unchanged,” and asserted “the Republic of China is a sovereign, independent, democratic country; this is self-evident, and Beijing’s claims are therefore without merit.” Office expressed gratitude for U.S. support and noted that arms sales are mandated by law.

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William Yang, analyst at the International Crisis Group warned that conditioning arms sales on negotiations could turn Taiwan “instead of being at the negotiating table, is on the menu.” He cautioned that approach may expose island to heightened risk. Wen-Ti Sung of Atlantic Council said Taiwan is “holding its collective breath” for substantive security guarantees instead of rhetoric.

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• “I’m holding that in abeyance and it depends on China,” — Donald Trump, President of the United States

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• “It’s a very good negotiating chip for us, frankly. It’s a lot of weapons.” — Donald Trump, President of the United States

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• “The Republic of China is a sovereign, independent, democratic country; this is self-evident, and Beijing’s claims are therefore without merit,” — Karen Kuo, Presidential Office Spokesperson, Taiwan

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• “I’d like to see everybody making chips over in Taiwan come into America,” — Donald Trump, President of the United States

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• “arms sales to Taiwan on his negotiations with China, Trump may play into one the island’s “nightmare scenarios,” said William Yang, a Northeast Asia senior analyst for International Crisis Group: that Taiwan, instead of being at the negotiating table, is on the menu.” — William Yang, International Crisis Group

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President Xi’s summit with Trump framed Taiwan as “the most important issue in China-U.S. relations,” warning of “clashes and even conflicts” if the matter is mishandled. Summit precedes a planned visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin to Beijing, underscoring that geopolitical negotiations may shape environment in which U.S. arms policy toward Taiwan evolves.

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