Taiwan's flag flutters in the wind. [Getty Images]
Taiwan's flag flutters in the wind. [Getty Images]

Taiwan is closely watching the upcoming US-China summit, anxious that Beijing may press Washington to halt arms sales to the island. The Taiwanese government is in communication with the United States as it monitors how the summit's outcome could affect its security and economy.

Li Huizhen, spokesperson for Taiwan's Executive Yuan, said at a press conference ahead of the summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping that Premier Cho Jung-tai "is paying very close attention to the impact this meeting will have on the international situation, cross-strait relations and Taiwan's foreign policy," according to Yonhap and foreign media reports Thursday.

"The government will monitor every stage of the talks and respond with full effort," Li added.

Li declined to say whether the United States had briefed Taiwan on the summit's agenda in advance.

However, she said the government "continues to closely monitor high-level US-China talks" and "views positively any interaction that helps stabilize regional conditions and manage the risks posed by the expansion of authoritarian forces."

She said Taiwan is maintaining contact with the United States through multiple channels to stay informed of developments.

Li also said the United States "has reaffirmed on multiple occasions its firm and clear support for Taiwan," adding that "Taiwan is grateful for the long-standing support the US has provided across various sectors."

She said Taiwan is also carefully examining how any agreement reached at the summit on economic issues — including tariffs and supply chain restructuring — could affect Taiwanese industry, and pledged to "continue close communication with the United States to protect Taiwan's industrial and national interests."

President Lai Ching-te and his national security team recently held a meeting to review various scenarios that could emerge from the summit, sources said.

Taiwan's national security authorities assessed that China will pursue three main objectives at the summit. The central goal is to weaken US military involvement along the First Island Chain, including by slowing American arms sales to Taiwan. Beijing is also expected to push for looser restrictions on advanced technology — covering supply chain security and export controls on China — while seeking to blunt Washington's response to China's overcapacity problem.

Taiwan is particularly focused on the possibility that China will concentrate its efforts on delaying US arms sales to the island. A Taiwanese national security official said a delay in US weapons deliveries could set back Taiwan's military buildup schedule, and that Beijing views such a delay as a tool to reduce American military engagement along the First Island Chain.

Taiwan's national security team is also keeping in mind the possibility that China could ask the United States to postpone any large-scale arms sales to Taiwan until after Christmas.


chami@heraldcorp.com