Taiwan says it won't be sacrificed as Trump weighs arms saleTrump weighs arms sale
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te said the island will not be sacrificed after U.S. President Donald Trump said he was considering a planned arms sale to Taipei following his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The comments came on May 17 and 18 as Taiwan tried to counter anxiety over whether Washington might trade away support in talks with Beijing.
The issue matters because U.S. weapons sales are a key part of Taiwan's defense and a sensitive point in the wider U.S.-China rivalry.
Taiwan
President Lai Ching-te said Taiwan will not be sacrificed or traded in any deal between major powers. He framed U.S. arms sales as important both for Taiwan's security and for stability in the Indo-Pacific.
United States
Donald Trump said he was still considering whether to approve the new arms sale to Taiwan. He also said Washington does not want to encourage Taiwan to move toward formal independence under U.S. backing.
China
Beijing views Taiwan as part of China and opposes foreign arms sales to the island. It treats outside military support for Taiwan as interference in its sovereignty claims.
- Taiwan has been ruled separately from mainland China since 1949.
- The island sits near major sea lanes that connect Northeast Asia with the South China Sea.
- The U.S. follows a long-standing policy of keeping Taiwan militarily capable without formally recognizing it as an independent state.
US-China Indo-Pacific Rivalry
China and Taiwan coast guard vessels have repeatedly faced off near the Pratas Islands, with the latest standoff showing how small maritime incidents around Taiwan can quickly become confrontations.[1][5] The episode adds to wider U.S.-China military tension across the Indo-Pacific, where Beijing is expanding patrols and Washington is reinforcing regional deterrence.[2][3] The rivalry now centers on preventing miscalculation around Taiwan, the South China Sea, and nearby sea lanes.[1][3][5] It also shapes defense planning by Taiwan, Japan, the Philippines, and the United States as all sides weigh coercion, sovereignty claims, and the risk of escalation.[2][3]
24 May, 07:39 AM
Taiwan and China coast guards face off near Pratas islands1 January
The United States adopts a sharper great-power competition strategy focused on China
