Donald Trump Meets Xi Jinping: 'Our Greatest Fear is That Taiwan Lands on the Menu'

The prospect of President Donald Trump's meeting with Xi Jinping in Beijing has cast a long shadow of anxiety over Taiwan, with officials expressing grave concerns that the island could become a pawn in the high-stakes negotiations between the two global powers. The sentiment, articulated with unusual candor by Taiwan's Vice Foreign Minister François Wu, is that Taiwan might "land on the menu" during the talks, a stark metaphor for being sacrificed for broader geopolitical or economic concessions.

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Our greatest fear is that Taiwan lands on the menu during the conversation between Xi Jinping and President Trump.

This fear is rooted in Trump's transactional approach to foreign policy. Unlike his predecessor, Joe Biden, who had assured Taiwan of U.S. military support in the event of a Chinese attack, Trump has deliberately maintained ambiguity. His administration has previously shown a willingness to subordinate security concerns to economic interests, as evidenced by the cancellation of a planned U.S. transit for Taiwanese President William Lai to avoid jeopardizing a trade deal with Beijing.

Furthermore, Trump has hinted at making arms sales to Taiwan contingent on discussions with Xi, a move that would represent a dramatic departure from long-standing U.S. policy and a potential breach of the Six Assurances. These assurances, made in 1982, include a commitment that Washington would not consult Beijing on arms sales to Taipei. The potential erosion of these guarantees is a significant worry for Taiwan, which relies heavily on U.S. military support for its defense against mainland China's growing assertiveness.

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For Xi, Taiwan will be the top priority during President Trump's visit, prominent Chinese researchers have made this clear both publicly and in private conversations.

From Taiwan's perspective, the upcoming summit is fraught with peril. China views the reunification of Taiwan as a core national objective, a "sacred and inseparable part" of its territory. Xi Jinping is expected to make Taiwan a top priority in his discussions with Trump, leveraging any perceived weakness or wavering in U.S. commitment. The island nation finds itself in a precarious position, hoping that its strategic importance and democratic values will not be overlooked in the pursuit of a larger deal between Washington and Beijing.

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He once compared Taiwan to the ungrateful protégé of a mafia boss – the latter being himself.