Trump says Taiwan '59 miles away,' links arms sales

President Donald Trump used a Fox News interview on May 15 to cast fresh doubt on U.S. arms sales to Taiwan after his Beijing summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, tying the issue to distance, military risk and trade. Trump said Taiwan was “59 miles away” from China and the United States was “9,500 miles away,” adding that he had not yet decided whether to move forward with a major package for Taipei. He also repeated his complaint that Taiwan “stole” the U.S. chip business and said Xi had shown interest in buying more American oil. The remarks came one day after Xi warned that mishandling Taiwan could endanger U.S.-China relations. ### What exactly did Trump say about Taiwan after meeting Xi? Fox News host Bret Baier asked Trump on May 15 whether people in Taiwan should feel more or less secure after the Xi meeting, and Trump answered: “Neutral,” according to a transcript excerpt published by RealClearPolitics. Trump said U.S. policy had not changed, but added that Taiwan was “59 miles away” from China and the United States was “9,500 miles away,” calling that “a little bit of a difficult problem.” (realclearpolitics.com) Trump also said he was “not looking to have somebody go independent” and said he wanted both Taiwan and China to “cool down,” according to the same interview excerpt. On Air Force One later that day, Trump told reporters he would make a decision on the arms package “over the next fairly short period.” (realclearpolitics.com) ### Which arms sale is now in question? Congress approved a $14 billion arms sale to Taiwan in January, but the package cannot proceed until Trump formally sends it to Congress, Politico reported. The Trump administration had also authorized an $11 billion weapons package for Taipei in December, and AP reported on May 15 that it had not yet moved forward. (realclearpolitics.com) Politico reported that Trump acknowledged Xi raised U.S.-Taiwan arms deals in their discussions. Trump said, “He brought that up,” and said he had heard Xi out. ### Why are Trump’s comments drawing scrutiny in Washington and Taipei? The Taiwan Relations Act says the United States will make available to Taiwan defense articles and services needed for a “sufficient self-defense capability.” A separate set of Reagan-era commitments known as the Six Assurances includes a pledge that Washington would not consult Beijing on arms sales to Taiwan. (politico.com) The State Department said this week that the United States remains committed to its “one China” policy as guided by the Taiwan Relations Act, the Three Joint Communiques and the Six Assurances, according to remarks reported by the Taipei Times. Reuters reported on May 14 that Taiwan said nothing surprising had emerged from the Trump-Xi summit and again urged China to stop military pressure on the island. (ait.org.tw) ### Where do chips fit into Trump’s argument? Trump used the Fox interview to revive a familiar complaint about Taiwan’s semiconductor industry, saying the island had “stole our chip business,” according to reports that summarized the exchange. The remark fit with his broader push to move advanced manufacturing to the United States. (taipeitimes.com) Taiwan sits at the center of the global chip supply chain through companies including Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., which filed its 2025 annual report with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on April 16. TSMC describes itself in company materials as a dedicated semiconductor foundry and remains the industry’s largest contract chipmaker. (thedailyjagran.com) ### What did Trump say about Xi and oil? Trump said after the summit that Xi was interested in buying more U.S. oil, according to contemporaneous reports from outlets covering the Beijing visit. Gulf News, summarizing Trump’s comments on May 15, said the talks pointed to possible Chinese purchases of American oil as both sides tried to stabilize ties after disputes over tariffs, Taiwan and Iran. (sec.gov) Trump also said Xi was receptive to opening talks on a three-way nuclear arrangement involving the United States, Russia and China, AP reported. Trump called Xi’s response “very positive” and said, “This is the beginning.” ### What happens next in the Taiwan arms process? The next concrete step is a White House decision on whether to transmit the January-approved $14 billion Taiwan arms package to Congress. (gulfnews.com) Trump said on May 15 that he would make that determination in a “fairly short period,” and lawmakers in Washington and officials in Taipei will be watching for that move. (politico.com) (military.com)