TAIPEI (TVBS News) — President Donald Trump may soften his stance on China, potentially making significant concessions on Taiwan and technology issues to facilitate talks with Chinese leader Xi Jin-ping (習近平), the Washington Post reported Wednesday (July 30). The diplomatic shift represents a notable departure from previous hardline approaches toward Beijing. These potential policy changes could fundamentally reshape U.S.-China relations and impact Taiwan's strategic position in the region.
The U.S. government has advised Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) against transiting through America in August while postponing a planned June meeting between Taiwan's Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo (顧立雄) and Pentagon officials. The administration has additionally paused implementing new export controls on China as part of broader diplomatic recalibrations. Insiders revealed that President Lai's early August visits to Dallas and New York were canceled due to restrictions imposed by the Trump administration.
Defense Minister Koo's planned June visit to Washington for meetings with Department of Defense officials was canceled following a phone call between Trump and Xi in early June. The high-level meeting has yet to be rescheduled, reflecting broader diplomatic tensions. Critics warn that Trump's conciliatory approach toward China could weaken U.S. competitiveness in economic, technological, and military domains while potentially undermining regional stability. Ely Ratner, a former assistant secretary of defense under former President Joe Biden, cautioned that these concessions send a dangerous signal and may invite further pressure and coercion from Beijing. ◼