President Donald Trump said he discussed a possible U.S. arms sale to Taiwan with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a recent trip to Beijing [1].
The discussion occurs as the two largest economies attempt to manage a volatile relationship while addressing Taiwan's security needs and China's objections to U.S. military support for the island [2].
Speaking aboard Air Force One after his three-day visit to China [1, 5], Trump said the conversation regarding military hardware was a key part of the summit. The visit concluded on May 15, 2026 [1, 2].
"We talked extensively about Taiwan," Trump said [3].
The president indicated that the final decision on the sale remains pending. "I will make a determination over the next fairly short period," Trump said [4]. He said that he discussed the sales with Xi Jinping and a decision would follow soon [6].
Reports on the success of the meetings vary. Some accounts suggest the leaders made important progress in stabilizing U.S.-China relations [2]. However, other reports indicate there was no sign that the two leaders resolved major points of contention regarding Taiwan [3].
Additional reporting suggests that the U.S. position on arms sales persists despite opposition from President Xi [4]. The discussions in Beijing were part of a broader effort to navigate trade, and security tensions between the two nations [2, 7].
“"I will make a determination over the next fairly short period."”
The timing of this announcement suggests the U.S. is using the potential arms sale as a diplomatic lever. By discussing the package directly with President Xi before making a final determination, the administration is signaling a balance between maintaining Taiwan's defense capabilities and managing the risk of escalation with Beijing.
