President Donald Trump said he plans to speak directly with Taiwan’s president as the United States continues considering future arms sales to the island.
The move would be highly significant because no U.S. president has held a direct call with a Taiwanese president since Washington formally switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979.
Trump’s comments come as tensions between the United States, China and Taiwan remain high following his recent summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The administration is still weighing whether to approve additional arms sales to Taiwan, a decision that could further strain relations with Beijing.
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China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and strongly opposes U.S. weapons sales or official political contact with Taipei.
The United States does not formally recognize Taiwan as an independent country, but it has maintained unofficial relations with the island and continued providing defensive support for decades.
Trump said earlier that he had not made a final decision on future arms sales, leaving both Taipei and Beijing watching closely.
Supporters of U.S. assistance argue that Taiwan needs strong defensive capabilities to deter possible Chinese aggression and maintain stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
Critics warn that direct communication between Trump and Taiwan’s president could provoke Beijing and complicate efforts to stabilize U.S.-China relations after the recent summit.
The issue is also closely tied to the global semiconductor industry. Taiwan plays a central role in advanced chip manufacturing, making its security a major concern for technology companies and governments around the world.
Any conflict involving Taiwan could disrupt global supply chains, damage financial markets and increase the risk of a broader military confrontation between the United States and China.
Trump’s statement suggests his administration may be willing to take a more direct approach toward Taiwan while still keeping options open in negotiations with Beijing.
For now, the White House has not announced when the call may take place or whether it will be tied directly to a decision on arms sales.
The potential call is expected to draw close attention from lawmakers, foreign policy analysts and officials across Asia as Washington continues balancing support for Taiwan with its broader relationship with China.
#WATCH | On his plans to call Taiwan President Lai before making a decision on arms deal, US President Donald Trump says, "I'll speak to him. We have the situation very well in hand. We had a great meeting with President Xi. It was amazing, actually. We will work on that – the… pic.twitter.com/JUZvNcSfN2
— ANI (@ANI) May 20, 2026
