Trump ambiguity raises questions on US support to Taiwan
Key takeaways
- He also notably did not commit to a $14 billion arms deal with Taiwan.
- The vague messaging sync with what many have described as Washington s long position of strategic ambiguity on Taiwan.
- Regarding arms sales to Taiwan, this is not only a security commitment to Taiwan explicitly stated in the Taiwan Relations Act, but also a joint deterrent against regional threats, the ministry said.
Why this matters: political developments that affect policy direction and public trust.
Trump told reporters on Air Force One en route back to Washington that he did not want to say whether he would defend Taiwan if the island nation were to face military threats from Beijing, adding that he was the only one who could make that determination.
He also notably did not commit to a $14 billion arms deal with Taiwan. He said that topic was discussed with Xi in great detail before saying he will make a determination over the next fairly short period.
The vague messaging sync with what many have described as Washington s long position of strategic ambiguity on Taiwan. However it also comes after an extraordinary warning by Xi to Trump behind closed doors where he suggested the island nation is key when it comes to U.S.-Chinese relations.