Taiwan says no Trumpsays no Trump call planning talks have taken place
Taiwan said on May 25 that a call between its leaders and US President Donald Trump would be welcome, but no planning talks have taken place.
The comment came from Taiwan’s foreign minister in Taipei and underscored the sensitivity of any direct contact between Washington and Taipei. It matters because such a call could affect US-China relations and signal how the new US administration intends to handle Taiwan.
Taiwanese Perspective
Taiwan’s foreign minister said a call with President Donald Trump would be positive and left the initiative to Washington. The government signaled that no preparatory talks have begun, suggesting it does not want to appear to force the issue.
US Perspective
From the US side, any direct contact with Taiwan’s leadership would be politically significant because it touches a core point of friction with Beijing. A call could be read as a signal of the new administration’s approach to Taiwan and China policy.
- The United States switched formal diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979.
- Taiwan sits on a major shipping route between the East and South China seas.
- Direct contact with Taiwanese leaders often draws attention in Beijing because it signals possible shifts in US policy.
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
