As the world watches the evolving relationship between the United States and China, a new chapter is unfolding—one that could have lasting consequences for the delicate balance of power in East Asia. On September 28, 2025, reports from The Wall Street Journal and other major outlets revealed that Chinese President Xi Jinping is preparing to demand that U.S. President Donald Trump publicly oppose Taiwan’s independence during their upcoming trade negotiations. This move, according to sources familiar with Beijing’s strategy, is designed to pressure Washington into abandoning its traditional position of strategic ambiguity and instead align itself more closely with China’s stance on Taiwan.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Xi’s primary goal is to shift U.S. policy from a neutral stance to one that actively opposes Taiwanese sovereignty. Such a change would not only isolate Taiwan internationally but also bolster Xi’s authority at home, where the question of Taiwan remains a central pillar of national identity and political legitimacy. "It would signal a shift in US policy from a neutral position to one that actively aligns with Beijing against Taiwanese sovereignty—a change that could further cement Xi's hold on power at home," the WSJ reported, citing sources close to the negotiations.
These high-stakes talks come at a time when U.S.-Taiwan relations are in flux. Unlike his predecessor, President Joe Biden, Trump has carefully avoided making direct statements about whether the United States would defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese invasion. Trump has argued that such comments could undermine his negotiating leverage with Beijing. Instead, his administration has focused on deterring China through a mix of diplomatic pressure and urging Taipei to increase its own defense spending, particularly on drones and ammunition.
In a striking development earlier this year, Trump declined to approve more than $400 million in military aid to Taiwan that was scheduled for delivery in the summer of 2025. As reported by The Telegraph, this decision was closely tied to ongoing trade negotiations with China, with Trump seeking to use the aid package as a bargaining chip in hopes of securing a more favorable economic deal and possibly arranging a high-profile summit with Xi Jinping.
The diplomatic dance between Washington and Beijing has been further complicated by Russia’s involvement. Leaked documents and Western intelligence sources indicate that Moscow has agreed to supply military equipment and conduct large-scale training exercises for Chinese airborne forces, specifically in preparation for a potential assault on Taiwan. According to The Telegraph, this cooperation includes the sale of dozens of military vehicles and advanced parachute systems, with Russian troops providing specialized training to their Chinese counterparts. The aim: to prepare Chinese paratroopers for the possibility of an aerial assault across the 110-mile Taiwan Strait—a body of water that China claims as part of its territory and regularly patrols with military exercises.
China’s position on Taiwan has been unwavering for decades. Since the end of the Chinese Civil War in 1949, when the defeated Kuomintang fled to the island, Taiwan has remained outside Beijing’s control. Yet, China continues to view Taiwan as a breakaway province, and Xi Jinping has repeatedly declared that no force can stop China’s “reunification” with the island. This rhetoric has been backed by a steady escalation in military, economic, and diplomatic pressure on Taipei, with Beijing staging increasingly sophisticated war games in the region.
The upcoming meetings between Trump and Xi are expected to take place over several months, with the first major encounter scheduled for an economic summit in South Korea next month. Trump has expressed optimism about the talks, stating that both leaders are "looking forward to meeting" and hinting at a possible visit to Beijing in early 2026—a trip that would be seen as a diplomatic coup for Xi. The Chinese leader is also planning a reciprocal visit to the White House at a later date, further underscoring the high-profile nature of these discussions.
For Trump, the prospect of a landmark trade deal with China is tantalizing. Following the recent agreement on TikTok’s future in the U.S., Trump is eager to secure another diplomatic victory. However, the price of such a deal may be steep. According to sources cited by The Wall Street Journal, Xi intends to use Trump’s desire for economic progress as leverage, pressing him to make a public declaration against Taiwan’s independence—a move that would represent a dramatic shift in longstanding U.S. policy.
Washington’s approach to Taiwan has long been characterized by strategic ambiguity. While the U.S. does not formally recognize Taiwan as an independent nation, it has maintained unofficial relations and provided military support under the Taiwan Relations Act. This delicate balancing act has allowed the U.S. to support Taipei without provoking open conflict with Beijing. Yet, recent developments suggest that this equilibrium may be at risk. In the weeks following Trump’s return to office, the State Department removed a Biden-era statement from its website that explicitly said the U.S. did not support Taiwan’s independence—a move that was welcomed by Taiwan’s government as a sign of increased support. At the same time, the U.S. continued to insist that it opposed "any unilateral changes to the status quo from either side."
China, for its part, has been unequivocal in its opposition to any form of official exchanges or military ties between the U.S. and Taiwan. Liu Pengyu, a spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in the U.S., told The Wall Street Journal, "China firmly opposes any form of official exchanges or military ties between the US and Taiwan." This position has been reinforced by Beijing’s ongoing military build-up and its willingness to collaborate with Russia on advanced military tactics.
In August 2025, Trump claimed that Xi had personally assured him that China would not invade Taiwan during his administration, saying, "China is very patient." However, Western intelligence agencies believe that Beijing could be ready for a full-scale assault on Taiwan by 2027, especially given the new military cooperation with Russia.
As the world waits to see how these negotiations unfold, the stakes could hardly be higher. A shift in U.S. policy on Taiwan would reverberate far beyond the region, potentially altering the strategic landscape of the Asia-Pacific and raising questions about Washington’s commitments to its democratic allies. For now, all eyes are on the upcoming summits—and on the delicate, high-wire diplomacy that will determine the fate of Taiwan and the future of U.S.-China relations.
With so much at stake, the coming months promise to be a defining moment for both Washington and Beijing, as well as for the people of Taiwan, who find themselves once again at the center of a global power struggle.
