Trump-Xi Summit Ahead: DPP Caucus Says No Need to Stir Up Panic in Taiwan
Taiwan's ruling DPP is telling the public not to panic ahead of this week's Trump-Xi summit in Washington, framing it as a big-power negotiation that will not turn Taiwan into a bargaining chip.
- Xi Jinping is making a state visit to the US this week at Trump's invitation, their second face-to-face meeting this year after Trump's trip to Beijing in May.
- The main worry in Taiwan is whether the island gets traded away at the negotiating table.
- DPP caucus leader Chuang Jui-hsiung says Taiwan cannot be a pawn between big powers and will decide its own role, so there is no need to write a doomsday script in advance.
- The US State Department and White House keep repeating that US policy on Taiwan is unchanged and that they oppose any forced change to the status quo.
- The DPP's answer is to manage the risk by building up economic strength, defense readiness, and ties with democratic allies in the Indo-Pacific.
Outlook: Taipei will watch the summit closely but is betting on steady US support and continued communication channels rather than any sudden shift in Taiwan policy.