Photo: EPA
Recent comments by Donald Trump on Taiwan have raised concerns in Taipei, with analysts saying the U.S. president appears to be partially adopting rhetoric long promoted by Xi Jinping regarding the island.
In an interview with Fox News after his visit to Beijing, Trump described U.S. arms sales to Taiwan as “a very good bargaining chip” in negotiations with China, suggesting future weapons deliveries could depend on broader talks with Beijing.
The remarks alarmed Taiwanese officials and observers because U.S. law commits Washington to helping Taiwan maintain its self-defense capabilities.
Trump also repeated his call for Taiwanese semiconductor manufacturers to move production to the United States, saying he wants “everybody making chips in Taiwan” to relocate operations to America.
Analysts warned that linking Taiwan-related decisions to negotiations with China could weaken Taipei’s position and increase fears that the island’s future may become part of broader U.S.-China bargaining.
During the interview, Trump additionally criticized Taiwan’s leadership, saying some politicians on the island “want independence because they think the United States is behind them,” language observers noted closely resembles Beijing’s narrative about Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te.
At the same time, Trump stated he does not want changes to the status quo in the Taiwan Strait and said he has no interest in fighting a distant war with China over the island.
