Taiwan: Trump prods China with offer of direct Taipei talks
Key takeaways
- Donald Trump has said he will talk with Taiwan's president about purchasing US arms.
- I speak to everybody," said Trump when asked about the situation.
- Taiwan's Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that Lai would be "happy to discuss these matters with President Trump."
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
Donald Trump has said he will talk with Taiwan's president about purchasing US arms. The move would break over four decades of protocol and be an affront to China.
https://p.dw.com/p/5E5Jg The Trump administration approved an $11 billion arms deal for Taiwan in December, Taipei is looking for a bigger package to bulk up defenses now Image: Daniel Ceng/Anadolu/picture alliance Advertisement US President Donald Trump on Wednesday reiterated his intention to hold direct talks with Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te over a reported $14 billion (€12 billion) arms deal — the first direct talks between the presidents of both countries in over four decades.
"I'll speak to him. I speak to everybody," said Trump when asked about the situation.