Trump leaves – After President Trump left Beijing without committing on a pending $14 billion Taiwan arms sale, lawmakers from both parties urged the administration to move forward, arguing deterrence depends on U.S. support as China’s Xi Jinping signals the Taiwan issue cou
When President Trump stepped off Air Force One after departing Beijing. he didn’t give Capitol Hill the answer it wanted most.. In comments made aboard the plane on Friday. Trump said he and Chinese President Xi Jinping “talked a lot about Taiwan. ” but that he had made “no commitment either way” on whether the United States would proceed with a pending arms sale to the island.
The remarks landed quickly on Capitol Hill. where lawmakers have been pressing the administration to sign off on a delayed $14 billion package that Congress approved in January.. Taiwan has long been a bipartisan priority for members in both chambers. and Trump’s refusal to promise a decision or clarify whether the U.S.. would defend Taiwan if China attacked has sharpened scrutiny.
Rep.. Michael McCaul, a Texas Republican and former chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said the U.S.. must “arm Taiwan so they can defend themselves for deterrence against Chairman Xi.” McCaul said that during the summit. Xi was “very aggressive” about Taiwan and added that “most of what [Xi] talked about was Taiwan.”
Asked about Trump’s lack of a decision, McCaul said there “there should be” one.
McCaul’s push reflects what lawmakers say they heard about the stakes directly from the top of the Chinese delegation.. A Chinese readout said Xi told Trump during the summit that the Taiwan question is the most important issue in China-U.S.. relations.. A Chinese ministry spokesperson added that Xi told Trump that if Taiwan “is handled properly. the bilateral relationship will enjoy overall stability. ” but if not. “the two countries will have clashes and even conflicts. putting the entire relationship in great jeopardy.”
The ministry also reported Xi warned that “‘Taiwan independence’ and cross-Strait peace are as irreconcilable as fire and water.”
In private negotiations language, Trump suggested the pending sale could become leverage.. After meeting with Xi. he told Fox News’ Bret Baier that he views the weapons package as a “very good negotiating chip.” Trump said: “I may do it. I may not do it. ” and later added: “Taiwan would be very smart to cool it a little bit.. China would be very smart to cool it a little bit.”
House Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Member Gregory Meeks. a New York Democrat. argued that even as Trump weighs the sale. the deterrence value of U.S.. support for Taiwan is not optional.. Meeks told CBS News on Friday. “I think it is important for us to make sure that Taiwan does have what it needs to defend itself.”
Meeks also said Xi has leverage over the president, but not over Congress and the American public. “He said Congress has already acted on the package, and ‘the president is the one that’s holding it up,’” Meeks said.
Speaker Mike Johnson reiterated his support for Taiwan on Friday. while saying he had not yet received a full readout from Trump on the talks with Xi.. “We’ve always been concerned, and we’ve made America’s interests very clear,” Johnson said.. “Our position on Taiwan, they need to stay independent and secure there.”
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, a Pennsylvania Republican, framed the issue in terms of a broader security test for democracies, comparing Taiwan to Ukraine. “We have to support Taiwan,” Fitzpatrick said. “We should be bolstering it,” adding that both are “fortresses of democracy” on the front lines.
The pressure comes at a moment when Taiwan has been among the most closely watched issues ahead of Trump’s trip to Beijing. Lawmakers worry the administration could delay or reconsider future arms sales as it negotiates with China on other fronts, including trade and Iran.
The $14 billion package remains unsigned despite Congress approving it in January. and it has been tied to a more recent pattern of heightened tensions.. The U.S.. announced a record $11 billion arms sale to Taiwan late last year—anger that reportedly helped prompt Chinese military exercises near the island.
As Trump continues to keep key elements of the decision process opaque, lawmakers are signaling that the missing signature on the $14 billion deal is more than a procedural delay. For them, it’s a test of whether deterrence in the Taiwan Strait will be backed by action, not postponed for leverage.
Trump Xi summit Taiwan arms sale $14 billion package Congress approved January deterrence Michael McCaul Gregory Meeks Mike Johnson Brian Fitzpatrick United States foreign policy China Taiwan relations