Trump ambiguity raises questions on US support to Taiwan

President Trump’s ambiguous stance on Taiwan and arms sales is raising questions about future U.S. support for Taipei in the aftermath of the summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping. 

Trump told reporters on Air Force One en route back to Washington that he did not “want to say” whether he would defend Taiwan if the island nation were to face military threats from Beijing, adding that he was the only one who could make that determination.

He also notably did not commit to a $14 billion arms deal with Taiwan. He said that topic was discussed with Xi “in great detail” before saying he will “make a determination over the next fairly short period.” 

The vague messaging sync with what many have described as Washington’s long position of “strategic ambiguity” on Taiwan. However it also comes after an extraordinary warning by Xi to Trump behind closed doors where he suggested the island nation is key when it comes to U.S.-Chinese relations.

Critics say Trump’s comments could have violated one of the “Six Assurances” made to Taiwan in 1982 by former President Ronald Reagan, which included Washington agreeing “not to consult with China” on arms sales to the island nation. 

“Stating that the president of the United States is commenting on or discussing potential weapons sales to Taiwan with Beijing violates one of the ‘Six Assurances’ that President Reagan gave Taiwan and really does cross a line in terms of moving away from strategic ambiguity to allowing Beijing to have influence over U.S. policy toward the island,” said Jack Burnham, an analyst at the Foundation for Defense and Democracies. 

When approached for comment by The Hill, a senior administration official reiterated Trump’s comments that he would make a decision on an arms deal soon and noted Trump........

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