President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that he intends to connect with Taiwanese President Lai Ching-toku, marking the first U.S.-Taiwan presidential conversation since 1979, as reported by Reuters.
During his remarks at Joint Base Andrews, Trump mentioned his plan to call Lai. This announcement aligns with discussions in the U.S. government regarding a new arms package for Taiwan. “Yeah, I’ll talk to him. I’ll talk to everyone,” Trump stated at Joint Base Andrews before boarding Air Force One. He noted, “We are very aware of the situation. We had a great meeting with President Xi. It was actually great. It was great.”
“Taiwan issue”
As detailed by Reuters, Trump referred to Taiwan as the “Taiwan issue” during his interaction with the press. He explained, “Nothing has changed. I can tell you this: I’m not going to make anyone independent.” He further commented, “And, you know, we’re going to travel 9,500 miles to fight a war. I’m not asking for that. I want them to be calm. I want China to be calm.”
A White House official indicated that a decision about a new arms package for Taiwan would be made soon. In December 2025, Trump had already approved an $11.1 billion arms sale to Taiwan, keeping in line with U.S. policy established since the 1950s.
China has consistently claimed that there is only one China and criticized Taiwan’s push for independence. Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jia-kun stated at a press conference, “Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory.” He added that Taiwan has never been a nation and will not be one in the future, asserting that efforts for “Taiwan independence” relying on external support are futile.
A White House official noted that Trump authorized more arms sales to Taiwan during his first term than any other president in history. They pointed out that Trump’s second term saw more first-year confirmations compared to all four years under President Biden.
The Taiwan Relations Act, passed in 1979, outlines the framework for informal U.S.-Taiwan relations, requiring the U.S. to provide defense goods and services for Taiwan’s self-defense. According to Section 3301 of the Act, “The United States shall provide Taiwan with defense articles and defense services in the quantities necessary to enable Taiwan to maintain an adequate self-defense capability.”
