Taiwan Representative Rejects Claims Trump Might Trade Island in US‑China Talks

Taiwan’s senior diplomat in Washington, Alexander Tah‑ray Yui, told Politico he has no concern that the island is being "traded off" in any U.S.–China negotiations. He said recent U.S. actions, including President Donald Trump’s visit to China and discussions about a proposed $14 billion arms package for Taiwan, do not alter the United States’ long‑standing policy toward the island.

Yui highlighted that the forthcoming arms sale, which Congress has approved, reflects the threat level posed by Beijing and matches previous U.S. support that has been larger under Trump than under the Biden administration. He also noted the broader U.S.–Taiwan relationship, covering trade, investment, scientific cooperation and major projects such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company’s chip‑fabrication facilities in Arizona. The diplomat stressed that Taiwan will not be used as a bargaining chip and that its sovereignty and national interests remain paramount.

U.S. officials, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, echoed the message that Washington’s stance on Taiwan remains unchanged despite recent high‑level meetings between Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping.