Taiwan’s government is monitoring President Trump’s upcoming meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping for any signals that Beijing plans to test American military resolve in the Taiwan Strait, according to officials in Taipei who spoke with Fox News.
The high-stakes summit comes as China has ramped up military pressure on the self-governing island democracy, conducting near-daily air and naval operations around Taiwan’s territorial waters. Taiwanese defense analysts worry Xi may use the meeting to gauge whether Trump will maintain America’s decades-long commitment to Taiwan’s defense or seek accommodation with Beijing on the issue.
Taiwan’s position carries direct consequences for American interests. The island produces over 90 percent of the world’s advanced semiconductors, the chips that power everything from smartphones to fighter jets. Any Chinese move against Taiwan would immediately threaten U.S. technology supply chains and military readiness.
The meeting also tests Trump’s approach to China after years of escalating tensions. During his previous term, Trump strengthened military ties with Taiwan and authorized major arms sales to the island. But he has also signaled interest in striking broader deals with Xi on trade and other issues, leaving Taiwan’s government uncertain about where it ranks among American priorities.
Chinese military flights into Taiwan’s air defense identification zone have increased 40 percent over the past year, according to Taiwan’s Defense Ministry. The People’s Liberation Army has also conducted large-scale amphibious assault exercises that defense experts view as rehearsals for a potential invasion.
For Taiwan’s 24 million people, the stakes are existential. China claims the island as its territory and has never renounced the use of force to bring it under Beijing’s control. The United States maintains a policy of “strategic ambiguity” on whether it would defend Taiwan militarily, but has committed to providing weapons for the island’s self-defense.
American military planners consider Taiwan critical to maintaining freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific, where $3 trillion in U.S. trade passes annually through shipping lanes China seeks to dominate. A Chinese takeover of Taiwan would shift the regional balance of power and potentially allow Beijing to project military force directly into the Pacific.
Taiwan’s foreign ministry declined to comment on specific concerns about the Trump-Xi meeting but emphasized the island’s determination to maintain its democratic system and close partnership with the United States. The summit is expected to take place within the next two months, though no official date has been announced.
Key Points
- Taiwan produces over 90 percent of advanced semiconductors critical to U.S. military and technology sectors
- Chinese military flights into Taiwan’s defense zone have surged 40 percent in the past year
- Trump’s meeting with Xi will signal whether he maintains strong Taiwan support or seeks broader accommodation with Beijing
https://www.foxnews.com/world/taiwan-watches-trump-xi-meeting-signs-china-test-us-resolve – May 13, 2026
