The Trump-Xi meeting will take place on the 30th. US President Trump had already announced before departing for Asia that he would discuss Taiwan with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Some Western media outlets warned that, unlike Trump's trip, which focused primarily on trade, Taiwan would be a key topic. The Wall Street Journal bluntly stated that Xi Jinping's primary objective and appeal would be US opposition to Taiwanese independence. Financial Times columnist Rahman wrote an article emphasizing that Taiwan's importance in the global economy and geopolitics makes it impossible for the US to abandon it.
Trump's meeting with Xi Jinping focuses on Taiwan; US warns China against easily offending Taiwan
The APEC Leaders' Summit is about to begin, with President Trump and President Xi Jinping scheduled to meet in Busan on the 30th. Besides the trade and tariff issues of concern to all parties, the US and Chinese leaders are expected to discuss regional security, particularly the Taiwan issue, which has garnered considerable international attention.
Before the summit, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio made it clear that the U.S. need not worry that"the government will abandon Taiwan in exchange for trade preferences. No one intends to do that."
Before departing for Asia, Trump briefly stated in an interview that he would discuss Taiwan, stating,"I'm not going to Taiwan, but I will talk about Taiwan... I have great respect for Taiwan." During the flight, in response to media questions about why China had no intention of invading Taiwan, Trump stated,"I hope they won't do that," and also noted,"Doing so could be very dangerous for them."
US media urges Trump to hold the line and reject Xi Jinping's blackmail on Taiwan.
Trump's ambiguous remarks clearly failed to resolve international media questions about whether he would compromise Taiwan's interests in his dealings with China. The Wall Street Journal bluntly stated its position in an editorial on the 28th:"Trump could contribute to world peace by rejecting Xi Jinping's demands to sell out Taiwan."
The editorial, titled"Xi Gives Trump a Taiwan Test," points out that Xi Jinping's primary demand is for the United States to formally oppose Taiwanese independence, yet current US policy is one of deliberate ambiguity. The article argues that Xi Jinping's approach, like Putin's, is to convince the international community that Taiwan is a rogue province, allowing him to suppress 23 million people who have never been ruled by the Chinese Communist Party.
The Wall Street Journal published an editorial arguing that Trump could contribute to world peace by rejecting Xi Jinping's demands to sell out Taiwan. (From the WSJ official website)
The article pointed out that conceding to Xi Jinping on the issue of Taiwan's independence is counterproductive to the goals Trump pursues; Trump wants Taiwan to increase defense spending, but supporting Xi Jinping's arguments will damage Taiwan's morale and make Taiwanese believe that trying to defend themselves is futile, which is exactly the result Beijing wants.
Attacking Taiwan is reckless. Financial Times: The US should defend Taiwan.
In addition to the Wall Street Journal, Financial Times columnist Gideon Rachman also published an article emphasizing Taiwan's importance in the global economy and geopolitics, making it impossible for the United States to abandon Taiwan. However, even if the United States does not intervene, Taiwan can still confront Beijing, and invading Taiwan would be an incredibly reckless act by Xi Jinping.
Good from @gideonrachman, getting a proper read on what an invasion of Taiwan by China actually means regardless of the US position and placing agency where it belongs, with Xi Jinping.
— @mhar4 (@mhar4) October 27, 2025
In truth, the crisis would never end, as Japan learned in 1930.https://t.co/7gRe4yZH9k
Rahman said that even if we put aside issues such as democratic values, TSMC produces 90% of the world's most advanced semiconductors, and it is impossible for this company and its complex supply chain network to be completely moved to Arizona. If China is allowed to actually control the global semiconductor industry, it will severely damage the economic security of the United States.
The article points out that from a strategic perspective, the United States should also defend Taiwan. Since the end of World War II, the United States has held dominant power in the Pacific. Taiwan's location in the center of the first island chain helps contain the Chinese navy and prevent it from dominating the Pacific.
Rahman believes that Taiwan's location in the center of the first island chain will help curb China's naval dominance in the Pacific. (Photo from the 7th Fleet X Platform)
Rahman believes that as East Asia becomes the core of the global economy, if the United States acquiesces to China's regional hegemony in East Asia, it would be tantamount to handing Taiwan over to Beijing. Even if Trump intends to"deal" with Xi Jinping to give up Taiwan, core staff in Washington will strongly advise against it.
Rahman, however, is confident about Taiwan's situation. He believes that some Americans believe that if China takes action against Taiwan, the US will stand idly by and Taiwan will submit to China without resistance."This is a false assumption." He pointed out that recent polls show that more than two-thirds of Taiwanese people are willing to fight to defend Taiwan. (Editor: Yin Caiwei)
