Donald Trump revealed after meeting with Xi Jinping that he has not yet committed to defending Taiwan if war breaks out and is preparing to make a decision soon regarding arms sales to Taiwan.
On 15 May 2026, US President Donald Trump disclosed while returning to Washington after completing a two-day summit in Beijing, China, that he has not made any commitments to China on the Taiwan issue during talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Trump stated that both sides discussed Taiwan in detail, with President Xi directly asking whether the US would defend Taiwan if China attacked. Trump replied, "I don’t talk about that," adding he will soon decide whether to proceed with the US government's previously announced arms sale to Taiwan, which China strongly opposes.
Previously, the Trump administration announced an $11 billion arms package to Taiwan, including multiple rocket launchers and various missiles. However, Trump recently said he will consult with Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te before making a final decision.
Trump said Xi Jinping is very serious about the Taiwan issue and does not want to see moves toward Taiwan's independence, as this could lead to a major confrontation.
According to Chinese state media, Xi Jinping warned during the talks that the Taiwan issue is the most important in China-US relations, and mishandling it could lead to clashes or even conflict.
Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu stated that Taiwan is closely monitoring the US-China summit and continues to coordinate with the US and allied countries to maintain Taiwan's relations and interests.