President Donald Trump greets President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China at Zhongnanhai in Beijing, China, on May 15, 2026. The Trump administration has delayed defense equipment shipments to Taiwan. (White House/Daniel Torok)

Why Taiwan’s Defense Should Not Be a ‘Bargaining Chip’

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Stable US-China relations should not require the United States to weaken its commitment to the defense of Taiwan.

President Donald Trump met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on May 14–15 to discuss trade, Iran, and the future of US-China relations. But Xi had one issue above all others on his mind: Taiwan.

That should surprise no one. For Beijing, Taiwan is no longer a side issue in the US-China relationship. It is becoming the center of stabilization between Washington and Beijing. Xi implicitly made an offer to President Trump during their meeting: if America wants a calmer relationship with China, Beijing expects Washington to reduce its support for Taiwan.

President Trump should reject that bargain.

Xi’s near-term objective is not necessarily an immediate invasion of Taiwan. Beijing would prefer to win without firing a shot. The strategy is to narrow Taiwan’s strategic space, slow its military modernization, isolate it diplomatically, and make every US action on Taiwan subject to Chinese approval. In that sense, Taiwan is not just a military flashpoint. It is the test case for whether China can pressure America into accepting a new balance of power in Asia.

The most immediate test is the $14 billion weapons package for Taiwan that has been stalled for months. The package reportedly includes systems Taiwan urgently needs: anti-drone capabilities, missiles, and battlefield........

© The National Interest