OPINION:
Chinese President Xi Jinping is scheduled to visit Washington for a summit with President Trump on Sept. 24 that is expected to cover trade, artificial intelligence and Taiwan.
Although other administration officials have repeatedly emphasized that U.S. policy toward Taiwan has not changed, a pending arms sale package to Taiwan worth more than $14 billion is still being held up by a White House review.
At the upcoming summit, China will likely seek the package’s continued delay while continuing to oppose arms sales to Taiwan in general. More broadly, China will likely seek to align the United States more closely with its position on Taiwan.
And Mr. Xi will likely argue — erroneously — that Taiwan’s current leadership is seeking to declare independence and that this is destabilizing. The administration should avoid accepting or aligning with China’s position.
Taiwan is a critical economic and security partner of the United States and a key node in the First Island Chain, a core U.S. interest.
President Trump should make clear at the upcoming summit that U.S. decisions on Taiwan policy will be based on Taiwan’s security requirements and U.S. law — not used as bargaining leverage in any negotiation with Beijing.
Washington must maintain the longstanding declaratory policy on Taiwan: The United States does not support any unilateral change to the status quo in the Taiwan Strait.
KENT WANG
Advisory commissioner for the Overseas Community Affairs Council, Republic of China (Taiwan) in the United States
Potomac Falls, Virginia
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