Xi Jinping Aims to Weaken US Support for Taiwan and Prepares to Pressure Trump During Upcoming Meetings
Chinese leader Xi Jinping, within his diplomatic strategy, seeks to diminish the positive stance of the United States towards Taiwan and to reduce their military and political support for the island.
A meeting between him and US President Donald Trump is scheduled for Thursday in South Korea.
According to sources from American media outlets, Beijing’s main goal is to persuade Trump to make official statements denying US support for Taiwan’s independence, thereby formalizing this position and making it acceptable to the Chinese leadership.
While Trump has stated that his primary focus is on trade issues, he also noted that during the meeting with Xi, he is willing to discuss the Taiwan situation.
Analysts believe that China is leveraging this and other upcoming diplomatic meetings to influence the US president’s stance on Taiwan and diminish US backing of the island in international affairs.
Experts suggest that Xi Jinping aims to obtain firm words from Trump stating that the US does not support Taiwan’s independence, which would help Beijing secure its diplomatic advantage and reduce US influence in the region.
At the same time, Trump emphasizes that Taiwan spends too little on its defense and unjustly dominates the semiconductor manufacturing industry, which could also be used as an internal political argument in the context of US policy towards China.