Taiwan President Lai Ching-te says Taiwan will not be “sacrificed or traded away” following comments by U.S. President Donald Trump and his meeting with China’s President Xi Jinping. The remarks come after the summit in Beijing last week, which prompted concerns in Taiwan about whether Washington’s support for the island could be rebalanced in U.S.-China negotiations.
In his first direct response to the summit, Lai says U.S. arms sales are a security commitment grounded in law and international obligations. He characterizes the weapons sales to Taiwan as necessary for maintaining regional peace and stability, and rejects the idea that Taiwan’s security could be treated as a “chip” in bargaining with China.
While the sources focus on Lai’s stance, they also point to the broader diplomatic context: U.S. and Chinese leaders meet and discuss their relationship, and Taiwan’s leadership seeks to clarify the basis and durability of U.S. support.
