WASHINGTON — Taiwan has emerged as one of the biggest unanswered questions following the latest White House meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
After their talks Thursday, neither leader responded when reporters asked whether Taiwan had been discussed during their meeting, according to Taiwan News and CNA.
The silence comes as Beijing has continued pressing Washington over Taiwan and as a proposed NT$445 billion (about US$14 billion) U.S. arms package for Taiwan remains awaiting Trump’s approval.
Xi Raises Taiwan During White House Talks
Although Trump and Xi did not publicly confirm whether Taiwan was discussed, China’s state-run Xinhua News Agency reported that Xi addressed the issue during the meeting.
Xi reiterated Beijing’s position on safeguarding what China describes as national unity and territorial integrity and called on Washington to exercise caution regarding Taiwan-related matters.
According to the Chinese account, Xi linked the issue to broader U.S.-China cooperation and bilateral relations.
Trump, meanwhile, described the meeting as “great” but provided few details about what was discussed.
He also declined to answer questions about whether the two leaders had talked about Taiwan, artificial intelligence or imprisoned Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai. Xi likewise did not respond to reporters’ questions about Taiwan.
Taiwan Watches the Arms Decision
The uncertainty surrounding the talks is particularly significant for Taipei because a major proposed U.S. arms package remains unresolved.
The package, valued at approximately NT$445 billion, has reportedly been held up for months as Trump has treated the potential sale as part of his broader negotiations with Beijing.
Taiwanese security officials have warned that prolonged delays could affect Taipei’s efforts to strengthen its defenses and potentially give Beijing greater room to challenge the U.S. security presence in the region.
The proposed package therefore remains closely watched in Taiwan as officials monitor the direction of U.S.-China relations.
Taipei Says It Is Monitoring Developments
Taiwan’s Cabinet said it welcomed developments that could contribute to regional stability while emphasizing that it remains in close communication with Washington.
Taipei has also said it is monitoring developments surrounding the Trump-Xi meeting and U.S. arms sales.
The issue carries wider regional implications because the strategic environment around Taiwan extends beyond the island itself. The first island chain — stretching from Japan through Taiwan toward the Philippines and other parts of Southeast Asia — is an important element of regional security planning.
The Biggest Question May Still Be Unanswered
The Trump-Xi meeting produced a number of signals about the future of U.S.-China relations, but on Taiwan, the public record remains limited.
Xi made Beijing’s position clear through China’s official account of the meeting, while Trump offered no public confirmation about whether Taiwan was directly discussed.
For Taipei, attention now turns to what Washington does next — particularly regarding the pending arms package and the broader direction of U.S. policy toward Taiwan.
The leaders left the White House without answering the Taiwan question. The next moves from Washington and Beijing could reveal far more.
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