Trump Aides Voice Fears of Chinese Attack on Taiwan Within Five Years

Concerns are emerging within the U.S. government that the recently concluded U.S.-China summit, which ended on the 15th, has increased the likelihood of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan within the next five years.

According to U.S. political outlet Axios on the 17th (local time), a close aide to U.S. President Donald Trump analyzed after the summit that "Chinese President Xi Jinping is trying to position China so that he can say, 'We are no longer a rising power. We are on equal footing with the United States, and Taiwan belongs to us.'" President Trump was reportedly highly satisfied with China's lavish hospitality during his visit, and President Xi also fostered a friendly atmosphere; however, the reality was different. According to the Chinese side's statement, President Xi remarked during the summit on the 14th that "the Taiwan issue is the most important matter in China-U.S. relations," and added, "If it is handled well, overall stability in bilateral relations can be maintained, but if it is mismanaged, the two countries will clash, pushing the entire China-U.S. relationship into a very dangerous situation."

On the 14th, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, during the US-China summit, U.S. President Donald Trump (left) shook hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Photo by UPI

During a Fox News interview on the 15th, President Trump sparked controversy by stating that selling weapons to Taiwan is "a good bargaining chip" and that the U.S. may or may not sell arms to Taiwan. By raising the possibility of using arms sales to Taiwan as leverage in negotiations with China, President Trump’s remarks contradicted previous statements by key members of his administration, who had maintained there would be no change in U.S. policy toward Taiwan. In response, Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te asserted that "security cooperation and arms sales between Taiwan and the United States are key elements in maintaining peace and stability in the region."

However, Jamieson Greer, U.S. Trade Representative, sought to quell the controversy during an interview with ABC, stating that there is "no change" in Taiwan policy. He said, "It is extremely important for the United States and China to maintain a stable relationship," and added, "President Trump is carefully considering how to approach this issue."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.