The art of the deal: how Beijing pushed Trump to ‘arrest’ the trend on Taiwan arms sales

Beijing sought concessions on Taiwan arms sales during Donald Trump's visit to China, pushing for a reduction in the size and pace of approved packages. Sources familiar with the matter revealed that Chinese officials conveyed this demand as early as the beginning of the year, insisting that Washington hold off on any Taiwan arms approvals before and after Trump's trip.

Beijing's dissatisfaction stemmed from the record arms packages approved during Trump's second term. Chinese officials signaled a preference for the smaller, more targeted approvals characteristic of Joe Biden's presidency. One source indicated Beijing's desire to "arrest the trend line" on the substantial arms packages.

While Trump hailed his visit for securing "fantastic trade deals" and emphasized his close ties with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, the discussions on Taiwan arms sales occurred on the margins. The push for reduced arms sales highlights Beijing's ongoing sensitivity to U.S. military support for Taiwan.

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arrest the trend line