Chinese officials pressed the US to reduce the scale of arms deliveries to Taiwan during President Donald Trump’s recent trip to Beijing. The demands were raised as early as the start of the year.
US President Donald Trump returned from Beijing earlier this month and described the visit as a historic breakthrough. He highlighted the trade deals reached and his close ties with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
On the margins of the trip, Beijing sought concessions on Taiwan. Chinese officials had raised the issue at the beginning of the year and asked Washington to pause any Taiwan arms approvals before and after the visit.
Sources said Beijing focused on the size of arms packages approved during Trump’s second term. Officials preferred the smaller approvals seen under former President Joe Biden and aimed to arrest the trend line on larger deliveries.
