President Donald Trump said Friday that he discussed potential U.S. arms sales to Taiwan with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a summit in Beijing [1].
The outcome of these talks could shift the security balance in the Taiwan Strait, a region where military escalation remains a primary concern for global stability.
Speaking aboard Air Force One on May 15, 2026 [1], Trump said that the issue was a point of discussion during the two-day summit [2]. The president indicated that a final determination on the sales is pending.
"I discussed Taiwan arms sales with President Xi, and I will decide soon," Trump said [1].
The discussions come amid long-standing tensions over the status of Taiwan. China views the sale of U.S. weaponry to the island as a violation of its sovereignty and a provocation.
President Xi Jinping highlighted the risks of instability during the summit. "If you mishandle Taiwan, it could lead to conflict," Xi said [3].
Prior to the meeting, Trump had signaled his intent to bring the topic to the table. On May 12, Trump said he would discuss the sales with the Chinese leader during the week's events [4].
While some reports suggested Trump brushed aside Taiwan concerns before the summit began, his comments upon departure from Beijing indicate the matter was addressed [1, 5]. The U.S. administration continues to evaluate the strategic necessity of the arms packages against the diplomatic costs of the relationship with China.
“"I discussed Taiwan arms sales with President Xi, and I will decide soon."”
The U.S. is balancing its commitment to Taiwan's defense with the need to maintain a functional diplomatic relationship with Beijing. By framing the arms sales as a pending decision after direct talks with President Xi, the U.S. administration is using military aid as a diplomatic lever to gauge China's tolerance and potential concessions.
