Taiwan monitors upcoming Xi-Trump summit for regional impact

As the upcoming second meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump approaches in Washington, officials in Taiwan are monitoring the potential impact on regional stability.

Shen You-chung, Deputy Chair of the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC), stated that US-China-Taiwan relations are expected to maintain ‘three constants’: the nature of US-China competition will not change, US policy toward Taiwan will not undergo fundamental shifts, and the Taiwanese government’s stance on maintaining the status quo in the Taiwan Strait will remain the same. Recent high-level communications between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggest efforts to manage differences, while economic discussions between Chinese and U.S. officials have focused on trade issues such as soybeans and liquefied natural gas.

In response to the diplomatic climate, Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen has urged the central government to convene a national security meeting. Lu expressed concern over recent criticisms from President Trump regarding Taiwan’s representative office and emphasized the need to reassure the public and demonstrate preparedness for the potential outcomes of the Xi-Trump summit.