Story perspectives

Xi presses Trump to halt $11B Taiwan arms deal

By Drooid · Sep 24, 2026, 6:12 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

China’s President Xi Jinping will press U.S. President Donald Trump to halt Taiwan arms sales.
Xi will cite the 1982 U.S.-China joint communiqué at the Washington summit.
The United States approved an $11 billion arms package for Taiwan, the largest ever.
A second $14 billion package remains on hold, which Trump called a negotiating chip.
China also demands the U.S. stop delivery of weapons Taiwan has already ordered.

History

Historical Context

In the 1995–96 Taiwan Strait Crisis China fired missiles and mobilized about 100,000 troops before Lee Teng-hui’s March 23, 1996 election, prompting U.S. carrier groups and an arms package for Taiwan. The episode anchored U.S. arms sales to the island. Today Xi Jinping urges President Trump to invoke the 1982 U.S.–China communiqué to halt further Taiwan weapons sales, citing that precedent.

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Story summary

China’s President Xi Jinping will press U.S. President Donald Trump to halt Taiwan arms sales.
Xi will cite the 1982 U.S.-China joint communiqué at the Washington summit.
The United States approved an $11 billion arms package for Taiwan, the largest ever.
A second $14 billion package remains on hold, which Trump called a negotiating chip.
China also demands the U.S. stop delivery of weapons Taiwan has already ordered.

1 / 2