The President of the United States, Donald Trump, confirmed on Monday that he will discuss with the Chinese President, Xi Jinping, the continuation of U.S. arms sales to Taiwan and the situation of Hong Kong activist and businessman Jimmy Lai during his upcoming official visit to Beijing.
The U.S. President made it clear that both issues will be central to the discussions with the Chinese leader, amid tensions between Washington and Beijing over regional security, human rights, and defense.
"I will have that conversation with President Xi," Trump told reporters at the White House when asked about U.S. military support for Taiwan. The President added that Xi "would prefer that we didn't," referring to the supply of U.S. weaponry to the democratically governed island claimed by China as part of its territory.
The statements come ahead of the summit that both leaders will hold this week in Beijing, considered one of the most important diplomatic meetings of the year between the world's two major powers. The Taiwan issue has remained a major point of contention between the two countries for decades.
The United States officially maintains a policy of "one China," through which it diplomatically recognizes Beijing. However, U.S. legislation obligates Washington to cooperate with the defense of Taiwan...
AI Brief
Your highlights
Donald Trump and Xi Jinping during a bilateral meeting in South Korea (REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/Archive)
U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed on Monday that he will discuss with Chinese President Xi Jinping the continuation of U.S. arms sales to Taiwan and the situation of Hong Kong activist and businessman Jimmy Lai during his upcoming official visit to Beijing. The U.S. leader made it clear that both issues will be a central part of the conversations with the Chinese leader amid tensions between Washington and Beijing over regional security, human rights, and defense.
"I will have that conversation with President Xi," Trump told reporters at the White House when asked about U.S. military support for Taiwan.
The leader added that Xi "would prefer that we didn't," referring to the supply of U.S. weaponry to the democratically governed island claimed by China as part of its territory.
The statements come ahead of the summit that the two leaders will hold this week in Beijing, considered one of the most important diplomatic meetings of the year between the world's two major powers.
The Taiwan issue has remained a major point of contention between the two countries for decades.
Trump makes statements in the Oval Office before his trip to Beijing to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping (REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein)
The United States officially maintains a policy of "one China," through which it diplomatically recognizes Beijing. However, U.S. legislation requires Washington to cooperate with the defense of Taiwan and ensure that the island can maintain sufficient military capabilities against potential external threats.
In recent months, the Trump administration has increased pressure on Taiwan to increase its investment in defense and strengthen its military capabilities.
Last December, Washington announced a military assistance package for Taipei valued at more than $11 billion, the largest approved to date.
Despite the increase in tensions in the Asia-Pacific region, Trump sought to convey reassurance about a possible military escalation between China and Taiwan.
"I don't think it's going to happen," he said when asked about a potential conflict during his presidency.
"I think we'll be fine. I have a very good relationship with President Xi. He knows that I don't want that to happen," he added.
Taiwanese soldiers pose on a M60A3 tank during military exercises designed to simulate an invasion and reinforce the island's defensive capabilities (REUTERS/Tyrone Siu/Archive)
The U.S. leader also acknowledged the geographical difficulties that Washington faces in the region.
"We are very, very far from Taiwan," he said, while noting that China is just over 100 kilometers from the island.
Trump also highlighted that Japan and other Asian countries have strengthened their political and strategic support for Taipei.
Another issue that Trump will bring up in the meeting with Xi is the case of Jimmy Lai, the Hong Kong businessman and founder of pro-democracy media outlets who remains imprisoned after being convicted by the Chinese regime.
Lai, 78, faces a 20-year prison sentence in a process widely questioned by Western governments and international human rights organizations.
Trump confirmed that he will again urge Xi to release the businessman.
Jimmy Lai faces a 20-year prison sentence in a process widely questioned by Western governments and international human rights organizations.
"People would like him to be out. And I would like him to be out," the U.S. president said.
He said he had already discussed the issue with Chinese authorities and would raise it again during his official visit.
Jimmy Lai became one of the most representative figures of the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong after the massive protests of 2019 against the tightening of Chinese control over the territory.
Beijing subsequently responded with a broad judicial and political offensive against opposition leaders, journalists, and activists.
Although Trump called for the release of the businessman, he also acknowledged that Lai "caused a lot of trouble in China" and noted that "he tried to do the right thing."
From China, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed on Monday its expectation that the meeting between Trump and Xi will allow for "expanding cooperation" and contributing "greater stability and certainty" in a context marked by increasing conflicts and strategic tensions.
Trump's visit to China will be the first by a U.S. president to Beijing in nearly a decade and comes at a particularly sensitive time for relations between the two powers, with open disputes over trade, technology, regional security, and human rights.
(With information from AFP, Europa Press, and Reuters)