Overview
- President Donald Trump told reporters on Wednesday that he plans to speak with Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te as he decides whether to approve a reported $14 billion arms sale to the island.
- Taiwan’s foreign ministry said Lai would be “happy to discuss” the matter and Lai has publicly pledged higher defense spending to deter pressure from Beijing.
- Beijing has sharply condemned talk of a presidential call and criticized Lai as a separatist, warning that any official U.S.-Taiwan contacts or arms moves could harm cross‑strait stability.
- The move would break decades of U.S. practice of avoiding presidential-level contact with Taiwan since recognition shifted to Beijing in 1979 and could signal that arms sales are being used as bargaining leverage.
- Taiwan already passed a $25 billion defense bill to fund purchases and Washington approved an $11.1 billion package in December, but the timing and format of any Trump-Lai contact and the final decision on the new sale remain unresolved.