President Donald Trump has revealed that he held “very detailed discussions” with Chinese President Xi Jinping regarding arms sales to Taiwan.
This statement has sparked concerns that the United States may be stepping back from its “Six Assurances” to Taiwan—a policy established in 1982 that explicitly states Washington will not consult with Beijing before selling weapons to Taipei.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One following his China visit on the 15th, Trump confirmed the arms sales topic was discussed “in great detail.”
When pressed by a journalist who noted that President Ronald Reagan promised in 1982 not to consult China on Taiwan arms deals, Trump responded dismissively: “The 1980s were quite a long time ago.”
Among the Six Assurances introduced during the Reagan administration, one key pledge was that the U.S. would not seek prior consultation with China on weapons transfers to Taiwan.
Trump elaborated: “He [Xi] clearly brought it up. We talked about arms sales to Taiwan. Actually, all discussions about weapons sales were extremely thorough.”
He added that he would make a final decision, noting: “Right now, the last thing we want is a war 9,500 miles away.”
Ahead of the U.S.-China summit, analysts had predicted Xi might urge Trump to at least delay planned arms deliveries to Taiwan, making Trump’s response a focal point of attention.
Trump’s remarks suggest he may have consulted Beijing on the matter, fueling speculation about a potential shift in long-standing U.S. policy toward Taiwan.