A recent report suggests that China threatened to cancel President Donald Trump’s planned meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in light of U.S. arms sales to Taiwan. However, a high-ranking U.S. official has contradicted that claim.
According to reports, Beijing reiterated its stance to Washington, indicating that Taiwan is a “red line” in their diplomatic relations as preparations are made for Xi’s anticipated visit to the White House on September 24. This was initially reported by The Telegraph, citing conversations with sources from Japan’s Kyodo News; yet, a senior official from the Trump administration described the reporting as inaccurate.
The core issue appears to revolve around approximately $14 billion in U.S. arms sales to Taiwan that Congress had previously approved but had not formally been notified about by the administration, as indicated in a bipartisan letter from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee sent to Trump in May. Trump mentioned in an interview that he was holding these sales “in abeyance,” referring to them as a “very good negotiating chip.”
This situation follows nearly $11.1 billion in proposed arms sales to Taiwan that were approved by the State Department and notified to Congress back in December 2025.
Jonathan Fritz, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress and former State Department official focused on China, expressed that if arms are withheld due to pressure from Xi, it’s akin to asking a predator if it’s wise to secure its prey. “The wolf’s going to say no,” he stated, hinting that it’s better to keep some defenses intact.
The State Department and the Chinese Embassy did not provide comments when approached. According to Allen Zhang, a research assistant at The Heritage Foundation, this kind of rhetoric from China is typically seen during high-level talks to remind the U.S. of Taiwan being a crucial issue, although he believes such warnings may not lead to any real consequences unless China acts decisively.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi was recently in contact with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, discussing preparations for forthcoming high-level interactions between the U.S. and China, which indicates that diplomatic efforts are underway leading up to the Trump-Xi summit.
Jake Werner, director of the East Asia Program at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, noted that the warning from China might not be a pressure tactic but rather a notification about how an arms sale right before the summit could be embarrassing for Xi, making the meeting impossible for the Chinese side. Clear communication, he suggested, is crucial in diplomacy.
This upcoming meeting will mark the third direct conversation between Trump and Xi in about a year, following Trump’s visit to Beijing in May, where they engaged in dialogue at significant venues.
Fritz warned that as Beijing perceives Washington’s commitment to maintaining the status quo across the Taiwan Strait as wavering, they may be more inclined to take risks. He pondered whether this would lead them to attempt a full-scale invasion of Taiwan, a question that carries much complexity.
The reported threat places a considerable American weapons package for Taiwan at the heart of U.S.-China relations, with Trump previously labeling it a “very good negotiating chip.”
According to Werner, the U.S. should continue its defense cooperation with Taiwan, but perhaps in a more discreet manner to avoid unnecessary tension. China’s historical sensitivity surrounding Taiwan, paired with its tolerance for practical measures that reinforce deterrence, suggests that maintaining a careful balance is vital.
A recent incident in Panama highlighted China’s aggressive stance towards even symbolic gestures related to Taiwan. After some Panamanian lawmakers formed a parliamentary exchange group with Taiwan, China issued a stern warning, asserting that such actions would have “serious consequences” and breached the one-China principle.
As Zhang mentioned, the U.S. stands as the sole nation providing substantial arms to Taiwan, and these sales play a crucial role in bolstering Taiwan’s defense capabilities. Delays in these sales may jeopardize Taiwan’s military readiness, potentially provoking China into aggression.
In anticipation of the summit, Taiwanese officials have been busy communicating their stance to Washington, with Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung expressing expectations that Xi would bring up Taiwan during discussions with Trump. There’s also interest from Japanese officials in ensuring that the U.S. maintains its established language concerning Taiwan due to their security interests intertwined with the island’s stability.
In a previous meeting, Xi emphasized to Trump that Taiwan is a domestic issue for China, urging the U.S. to adhere to the one-China principle. However, U.S. law prioritizes Taiwan’s defense, mandating that decisions regarding arms transfers consider Taiwan’s need for self-defense.
Zhang cautioned against assuming that arms sales can simply be resumed later, as pausing them could signal unreliability, complicating relationships and potentially nudging Taiwan nearer to Beijing. There was a recent episode involving Taiwan’s opposition leader visiting Beijing, marking an unusual level of communication.
Yet, amid these tensions, Taiwan is heavily investing in its own defense, planning to reach a defense budget of roughly NT$949.5 billion for 2026, equating to about 3.32% of its GDP, alongside a significant budget increase from the previous year.
