US hawks push Trump on multibillion-dollar Taiwan arms deal ahead of Xi summit

Washington has reopened discussions on billions in arms sales to Taiwan, casting a shadow over a leaders’ summit just weeks away – a meeting already burdened by bilateral trade frictions.

Although observers doubt the deal will go through before Chinese President Xi Jinping’s trip to the US, they warn that Taiwan is a strict red line and any arms package could derail bilateral talks.

The package remains under review by the Trump administration and was described by the US president as “a very good negotiating chip” with Beijing during his high-stakes state visit to China in May.

The amount would exceed that of a historic Taiwan arms package approved late last year – a move that prompted strong condemnation from Beijing, which held a two-day military exercise near the island soon after.