Trump Signals Unprecedented Call to Taiwan President Over Arms Deal

Following a May 2026 summit in Beijing with President Xi Jinping, Donald Trump announced his intention to speak directly with Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te. Such a call would break a diplomatic protocol maintained since the United States shifted recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979. Trump indicated the conversation would address the "Taiwan problem" and a pending $14 billion arms package, which he described as a "very good negotiating chip" that depends on China.

President Lai Ching-te welcomed the potential call, asserting that Taiwan's future must be decided by its 23 million people and that "nobody has the right to 'annex' the island." During a speech marking the second anniversary of his inauguration, Lai urged the continuation of U.S. arms sales, characterizing China as the primary disruptor of regional peace and stability.

The Government of China reacted with outrage, condemning the prospect of official exchanges and arms sales as support for "separatist forces." President Xi Jinping warned that the Taiwan question is the most critical issue in bilateral relations and could trigger conflict if mishandled. In response to the potential call, China deployed over 100 naval and coast guard vessels across East Asia. Despite these tensions, the American Institute in Taiwan reaffirmed that U.S. policy and commitments to Taiwan remain unchanged.