China reiterated its firm opposition to US arms sales to Taiwan on Wednesday, ahead of the upcoming summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. The Taiwan issue, which China considers an internal matter and claims as its territory, is expected to be a central topic during the two-day discussions.
Although the United States does not maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, it is legally obligated to provide the island with defensive capabilities. In December, the Trump administration approved an $11 billion arms package for Taiwan, marking the largest such deal to date.
At a press briefing in Beijing, Zhang Han, spokesperson for China’s Taiwan Affairs Office, emphasized that Taiwan remains “the core of China’s core interests” and warned the US against expanding military ties or selling weapons to the island. Zhang urged Washington to adhere to commitments under the longstanding “One China” policy, which officially takes no stance on Taiwan’s sovereignty while recognizing Beijing’s claim over the island without endorsing it.
Trump’s visit follows Taiwan’s opposition-controlled parliament approving only two-thirds of a proposed $40 billion special defense budget requested by President Lai Ching-te. While the approved budget included funds for US arms acquisitions, it reduced allocations for domestic defense initiatives such as drone development. A senior US official expressed disappointment over Taiwan’s lower-than-expected defense spending.
A senior Taiwanese security official expressed concern that Beijing might use the reduced budget to influence Trump during the summit. The official suggested China could argue that Taiwan’s own parliament opposed large-scale weapons purchases, potentially persuading Trump to scale back US military support.
Reports from March indicated that an additional arms package valued at approximately $14 billion might be approved after Trump’s return from China, though its current status remains uncertain.
On Tuesday, President Lai declared at the Copenhagen Democracy Summit that Taiwan is a “sovereign, independent nation” and would not yield to Beijing’s pressure. In response, Zhang rejected these remarks, stating that Taiwan has never been and will never become an independent country. She asserted China’s unwavering determination to oppose Taiwan independence and its unbreakable capability to prevent it.
China has not ruled out the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control, although Beijing continues to express a preference for what it calls “peaceful reunification.” The Taiwan issue remains a highly sensitive and pivotal element in US-China relations, especially as the two leaders prepare for their summit.
