President Trump is not expected to speak with Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te before Chinese President Xi Jinping’s potential trip to the United States this fall, according to multiple sources familiar with the discussions told CBS News.
During his recent visit to China, Mr. Trump was warned by Xi that mishandling Taiwan could lead to a “very dangerous situation.”
In mid-May, Trump indicated he would speak with Lai before approving an arms sale to Taiwan. He said, “I’ll speak to him,” and two weeks ago on Air Force One, “I have to speak to the person who is running Taiwan.”
No U.S. president has spoken directly with a Taiwanese leader since 1979 due to diplomatic sensitivities in managing relations with China.
Taiwan’s representative to the U.S. told CBS News that it’s still waiting for a phone call from the White House.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Beijing opposed any “official exchanges between the U.S. and China’s Taiwan region, and the U.S.’s arms sales to Taiwan is consistent, clear and rock-firm.”
Trump also mentioned during his visit to Beijing that he planned to hold the weapons in abeyance, depending on what China does. He suggested arming Taiwan could be a “negotiating chip” useful to the U.S.
The last U.S. arms sale to Taiwan was announced by the administration in December last year for $11 billion. A subsequent package worth $14 billion has been under consideration since January but has not yet been greenlit by the State Department and awaits Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s signature.
The Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO) said in a statement to CBS News that Taiwan and the U.S. maintain open communications, reaffirming their long-standing policy on Taiwan remains unchanged and supports the status quo and peace across the Taiwan Strait.
Xi has agreed to visit the U.S. in the fall, but no date has been set. While no call with Taipei has been planned, Trump always keeps options open.