Before the imminent U.S.-China leaders’ meeting in May, Taiwan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Wu Chih-chung said he is concerned that U.S. President Trump may make concessions on the Taiwan issue during talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, adding that Taiwan is working hard to prevent this from happening.
Wu Chih-chung said on Friday: “What we worry about the most is Taiwan being put on the negotiating menu between Xi Jinping and Donald Trump. We are worried about this, and we must avoid such a situation.”
Trump is expected to travel to Beijing for a summit with Xi Jinping between May 14 and 15. It is widely expected that the meeting will cover multiple business agreements and procurement commitments.
Reports say Xi Jinping is expected to urge Trump during this summit to agree to change the status quo on Taiwan, including clearly opposing Taiwan independence. Whether it is a verbal confirmation or a formal adjustment of U.S. policy, any such move would be a major diplomatic victory for Beijing.
When asked if the U.S. had assured Taipei that it would not adjust relevant statements, Wu Chih-chung responded: “Nothing is 100 percent certain.”
A White House official pointed out that Trump’s visit to China is expected to be a very positive visit, and that the U.S. government has always adhered to the "One China" policy, which has not changed.
According to this policy, the U.S. recognizes Beijing as the sole legitimate government of China, but does not explicitly state its position on Taiwan’s legal status, while maintaining unofficial relations with Taipei under this framework.
Wu Chih-chung said Taiwan is working to expand common interests with the United States, and pointed to Taiwan’s semiconductor industry and substantial investment in the U.S. as his main reasons for optimism. He said: “The more common national interests we share, the more at ease we feel that we won’t be put on the negotiating table. For now, we feel reassured.”
According to informed sources, overall communication between Taipei and Washington is positive, but the White House is unable to provide clear assurances regarding the specific topics and possible agreements of the China-U.S. leaders’ summit.
U.S. officials have downplayed related concerns, stating that this meeting will focus on trade and investment issues. Washington hopes to use the Beijing trip to secure more access to key minerals and rare earth resources, as China last year imposed sweeping export controls to cut off relevant supplies.