Taiwan arms sales seen as test of Trump's independence after Xi summit
Taiwan analysts say the next few days will show whether Trump's warm welcome for Xi Jinping came at Taiwan's expense — and most expect arms sales to go ahead.
- A stalled $14 billion arms package for Taiwan is the measure everyone is watching; approving it soon would signal Trump was not swayed by Xi.
- Former US defense official Hu Zhendong warns that delay would tell Xi his pressure works, encouraging more of it.
- Taiwan's National Policy Foundation panel argues the package is safe because Congress pre-approved it, not the White House, and expects it split into batches starting late this year.
- The red-carpet treatment for Xi included a B-1 bomber flyover — the same plane used against Iran's leadership — read as a quiet threat rather than pure flattery.
- Tech chiefs including Jensen Huang and Elon Musk at the head table showed Trump's real target was trade, and the truce was extended only two months.
Outlook: Expect the arms package to move in smaller tranches from late this year, with US wording on Taiwan unchanged even as tactics shift.