Washington's public statement ahead of the Trump–Xi meeting that it will not change its Taiwan policy is good news for the status quo, and also indicates that Washington has no intention of using Taiwan as a bargaining chip before the talks.

• Jia Bo, the US State Department's Chinese-language spokesperson, said in an interview at UN headquarters that US policy toward Taiwan has not changed.
• The United States continues to support Taiwan's meaningful participation in international organisations, including APEC.
• The United States opposes any change to the status quo by either side, with the emphasis on peace and stability across the region as a whole.
• Trump will meet Xi Jinping in Washington this week, with details still undisclosed; the two have already met once this year and may meet again before the end of the year.

Outlook: The outcome of the Trump–Xi meeting will determine whether the situation in the Taiwan Strait remains stable in the short term or heats up again.