President Donald Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Friday that he would “make a determination” about sending a multibillion-dollar arms package to Taiwan following a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The $14 billion package has been awaiting the president’s approval for months but was reportedly held back ahead of Trump’s trip to Beijing. On Thursday, lawmakers were closely monitoring the conversations between Trump and Xi regarding Taiwan, and some were concerned that the visit would pressure Trump to further delay, or even halt, the package, NOTUS reported.
When pressed by reporters, Trump remained noncommittal on whether the conversation with Xi changed the status of the arms package. The president said he would decide “over the next fairly short period” about what to do with the package, adding that he would speak with Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te before coming to a decision.
Trump also declined to say if the United States would defend Taiwan.
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“I don’t wanna say. I’m not gonna say that. There’s only one person who knows that. You know who it is? Me, I’m the only person,” Trump told reporters as he traveled back to Washington.
That was, Trump said, a similar set of questions and answers he gave to the Chinese leader when Xi inquired about defending Taiwan.
“That question was asked to me today by President Xi. I said, ‘I don’t talk about those things,’” Trump said.
According to Trump, Xi said he does not want to see a fight for independence in Taiwan. But the United States has supported Taiwan under the Taiwan Relations Act since 1979, and the proposed $14 billion package would be the largest sent to the island.
Trump’s decision could have serious implications for the United States’ relationship with China and Taiwan. But the president sought to assuage concerns about the situation turning into another overseas conflict.
“I think the last thing we need right now is a war that’s 9,500 miles away,” Trump told reporters.
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