Taipei Fears Taiwan Could Become a Bargaining Point in Trump-Xi Talks

Taiwanese officials said on Thursday they are preparing closely for next week\'s summit between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, warning that Beijing may try to use the meeting to gain ground on the Taiwan issue.

According to Taiwan\'s National Security Bureau chief, China could attempt what he described as maneuvering during the talks. The concern in Taipei is not only that Taiwan will be discussed, but that the issue could be linked to broader trade or diplomatic bargaining between Washington and Beijing.

That fear is rooted in Trump\'s more transactional style of foreign policy. Taiwanese officials are particularly sensitive to any suggestion that US support for Taiwan could be reframed in return for Chinese purchases of American goods or relief from economic pressure.

At the same time, Taipei says it has received repeated reassurance from the United States that its policy on Taiwan has not changed. That includes both public comments and private diplomatic communication.

The official said the Trump-Xi meeting is more likely to focus on managing tensions than on reaching deep solutions. That assessment reflects the wider state of US-China relations, where disagreements over security, trade and technology remain difficult to resolve quickly.

Taiwan matters because it sits at the center of all those pressures. China sees the island as a core sovereignty issue. The United States, while not formally recognizing Taiwan as a country, is legally committed to helping it defend itself.

For that reason, even small changes in wording or tone at the summit will be studied carefully in Taipei. What matters may not be a dramatic announcement, but whether either side signals a shift in how far it is willing to go on one of the world\'s most dangerous flashpoints.