U.S. president Donald Trump announced on Monday, February 16th, that a determination regarding the sale of weapons to Taiwan would be made “pretty soon.”
The statement follows a high-level phone conversation with Chinese president Xi Jinping, who cautioned Washington to handle the issue with extreme caution, calling Taiwan the most important matter in China-U.S. relations. President Trump described his relationship with the Chinese leader as “good,” noting that the two are scheduled to meet in Beijing this April.
Diplomatic tension remains high, as Beijing claims the island of 23 million people as its territory. Following the U.S. approval of an $11 billion arms package in December, China launched major live-fire military drills simulating a blockade around Taiwan’s key ports.
The security situation is further complicated by political friction within Taiwan. President Lai Ching-te has proposed a significant $40 billion increase in defense spending over eight years. However, this plan has been blocked in the opposition-controlled parliament ten times since early December. Dozens of U.S. lawmakers have recently urged Taiwan’s opposition parties to end the deadlock.
As the April summit approaches, Beijing’s top diplomat Wang Yi has warned that “instigating and plotting” over Taiwan could lead to a confrontation.
