Trump and Xi hold first meeting focusing on trade and climate amidst Taiwan tensions

On August 25, 2024, US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping held their first bilateral meeting at the White House since 2018. The two leaders focused on issues including trade, climate, and security; however, the Taiwan issue remained a focus of external attention. During the talks, the two sides did not directly mention Taiwan, but media and analysts generally believe that the positions of the two countries on this issue remain tense, especially against the backdrop of the US continuing to strengthen military and diplomatic cooperation with Taipei.

US policy toward Taiwan is rooted in the delicate balance of the Taiwan Relations Act and the "One China" policy. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1979, the official US government has not recognized Taiwan as an independent country, while committing to providing Taiwan with defensive weapons to maintain regional stability. After taking office, the Trump administration repeatedly stated publicly that "US policy toward Taiwan remains unchanged," and accelerated arms sales to Taiwan and visits by high-level officials, demonstrating that its support for Taiwan has surpassed the verbal commitments of its predecessors.

US Ambassador to China David Pond (Pang Dei-wei) reiterated in an interview with US media that despite continued pressure from China demanding that the US "respect the One China" principle and warning the US to "change its phrasing on Taiwan," the US has not changed any wording or position. Ambassador Pond pointed out, "We have not changed our phrasing, we have not changed our position." This remark conveyed a clear diplomatic signal that the US will maintain its established course on the Taiwan Strait issue.

On the Taiwan side, the Executive Yuan and the Ministry of National Defense quickly responded to the ambassador's statement, saying that firm US support is a key guarantee for peace in the Taiwan Strait. The ruling Democratic Progressive Party team also used this opportunity to emphasize that "the international community still sees Taiwan's democratic values" to consolidate internal support and counter Beijing's diplomatic isolation. In contrast, pro-China forces accused the US of "provocatively challenging" China's core interests and called on Taipei to reduce its reliance on the US to avoid intensifying conflict.

From a regional perspective, Asia-Pacific countries interpreted this message differently. US-Japan alliance members such as Japan and Australia view the United States