Lai Vows Taiwan Will Not Yield Sovereignty as Trump-Xi Talks Rekindle $11 Billion Arms Sale Questions
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · May 18
Lai Vows Taiwan Will Not Yield Sovereignty as Trump-Xi Talks Rekindle $11 Billion Arms Sale Questions
17 articles · Updated · BBC.com · May 18
Lai Ching-te said Taiwan will neither provoke conflict nor surrender sovereignty, marking his first direct response after Donald Trump and Xi Jinping discussed Taiwan in Beijing.
In a Facebook post, Lai said there is no separate "Taiwan independence" issue because Taiwan already sees itself as a sovereign democratic country whose future must reflect its people's will.
Trump, after warning he was "not looking to have somebody go independent," said U.S. policy had not changed and that he made Xi no commitment on Taiwan.
The exchange also revived scrutiny of a December $11 billion U.S. arms package: Trump said he would decide whether it proceeds, while Lai thanked Washington for continued support and security cooperation.
Beijing still claims Taiwan and has not ruled out force, even as Lai said Taipei wants dialogue with China on terms of equality and dignity while preserving the cross-strait status quo.
Can Taiwan’s divided government withstand Beijing's pressure while its key US ally urges caution?
As the world builds its own chip factories, is Taiwan’s 'silicon shield' defense becoming a ticking clock?
Taiwan at the Crossroads: U.S.-China Summit Fallout, Strategic Ambiguity, and the Global Stakes of Semiconductor Security (2025-2026)
Overview
In late 2025 and early 2026, the Trump-Xi summit marked a turning point in U.S.-China relations, with both leaders claiming success and agreeing to a delicate détente. President Trump secured new commercial deals, while President Xi highlighted Taiwan as a core interest and proposed a new framework for bilateral ties. Despite diplomatic engagement, China maintained military pressure on Taiwan, and President Trump’s ambiguous stance on Taiwan’s sovereignty raised concerns in Taipei and Washington. Taiwan responded by reaffirming its independence and boosting defense readiness, while the U.S. Congress pushed back against transactional diplomacy, reflecting growing uncertainty and tension in the region.