Trump keeps Taiwan arms sales open as leverage against China

US President Donald Trump has announced a controversial strategy regarding Taiwan following his state visit to China. In an interview with Fox News, Trump declared he would use decisions about arms sales to Taiwan as leverage in negotiations with China, calling the potential multi-billion dollar weapons deal a 'good trump card'.

Taiwan had been waiting for approval of a significant weapons delivery from the United States, but Trump is now keeping his final decision open. Simultaneously, the US President issued a stark warning to Taiwan against declaring independence, stating he doesn't want 'to travel 9,500 miles to fight a war'. Trump urged both China and Taiwan to reduce tensions and 'cool it'.

Trump's state visit to China appears to have been successful from the American perspective. According to the US President, several trade agreements were reached during the visit, including a Chinese commitment to purchase oil from the United States. Trump spoke of 'dozens of agreements' that could potentially be reached.

Beijing, however, responded with clear warnings to Trump's Taiwan statements. China cautioned that 'mishandling' the Taiwan issue could endanger US-China relations. For China, Taiwan is a breakaway province that should be reunified with the mainland, by military force if necessary.

The Taiwan question remains one of the most sensitive flashpoints in US-China relations. The United States is traditionally Taiwan's most important arms supplier and has committed to supporting the island's self-defense. At the same time, the US officially recognizes the One China policy, under which Taiwan is part of China.

Trump's statements illustrate his transactional approach to foreign policy, where he uses various issues as bargaining chips. Critics see this as a danger to regional stability, as Taiwan can no longer rely on dependable American support.

Reactions in the region were mixed. While China is likely to welcome Trump's restrained stance regarding Taiwanese independence, allies in Asia are concerned about the unpredictability of American Taiwan policy. Japan and other regional partners are watching developments with concern.

Experts warn that Trump's strategy of using Taiwan as a negotiating chip could further complicate the already tense US-China relationship. Uncertainty about American weapons deliveries could prompt Taiwan to develop alternative security strategies or seek other arms suppliers.

The coming weeks will show whether Trump follows through on his threat and how this affects regional stability. According to Trump, a final decision on weapons deliveries should be made 'over the next fairly short period'.

The broader implications of this approach extend beyond bilateral relations. Regional security arrangements and alliance structures in the Asia-Pacific could be affected if traditional US commitments become subject to transactional bargaining. This uncertainty may force regional actors to recalibrate their strategic planning and defense preparations.