Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to urge U.S. President Donald Trump to stop arms sales to Taiwan when the two leaders meet in Washington this week, according to sources familiar with preparations for the summit.
The request is expected to centre on the 1982 U.S.-China joint communiqué, under which Washington said it intended to gradually reduce arms sales to Taiwan and did not seek to maintain long-term weapons supplies to the island.
However, an accompanying memorandum by then-President Ronald Reagan stated that the U.S. commitment to reducing arms sales was conditional on China’s continued commitment to resolving differences with Taiwan peacefully.
China considers Taiwan part of its territory and has repeatedly demanded that Washington end weapons sales to Taipei. Taiwan rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claim, while U.S. law requires Washington to provide the island with the means to defend itself.
The issue is particularly sensitive ahead of Xi’s visit, with a new U.S. arms package worth about $14 billion still awaiting Trump’s approval. Trump previously described the delayed package as a useful negotiating tool in discussions with Beijing.
China is also reportedly prepared to seek an end to deliveries of weapons already ordered by Taiwan and could offer cooperation in putting pressure on Iran as part of broader negotiations.
Xi arrives in Washington on Wednesday, with formal talks with Trump expected on Thursday. While Taiwan is expected to feature prominently in the discussions, U.S. officials and analysts have indicated that a major change in Washington’s Taiwan policy is not expected from the summit.
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