Taiwan's representative to the United States, Alexander Yui, on Sunday, 18 May 2025, publicly warned that the island needed uninterrupted American weapons support to deter what he described as escalating Chinese aggression across the Taiwan Strait — a day after President Donald Trump signalled that future US arms sales to Taipei could be folded into broader negotiations with Beijing following his summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The remarks have set off alarm in Taipei, marking one of the most sensitive diplomatic flashpoints to emerge from the Trump-Xi Beijing summit, which otherwise produced few publicly announced agreements.

Trump's 'Negotiating Chip' Remark

Speaking in interviews and remarks after the Beijing summit, President Trump suggested that Taiwan-related arms sales could serve as leverage with China. 'It's a very good negotiating chip for us, frankly,' Trump said, according to reports citing ABC News. He also expressed a desire for both Taiwan and China to 'cool down', while stopping short of committing to approve a new weapons package that Taipei has been seeking.

The framing alarmed Taiwanese officials, who have long relied on the implicit guarantee of US military hardware as a cornerstone of their defence posture.

Taiwan's Representative Pushes Back

Appearing on CBS News, Yui argued that continued arms deliveries were essential to preserving peace. 'If we want to prevent a war from happening, I think it's best that Taiwan is strong, able to defend itself,' he said.

Yui sought to reassure domestic audiences that Washington had not formally altered its longstanding Taiwan policy, noting that both Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio had publicly reaffirmed support for stability in the Taiwan Strait. However, he made clear that Taipei wanted its perspective heard after Trump spent two days in Beijing receiving Chinese concerns about the self-governed island.

'He heard only their side of the story,' Yui said, adding: 'We're not the ones creating all this trouble. It is China... creating all these problems.'

Beijing's Posture and Military Pressure

China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has repeatedly warned against foreign military support for Taipei. In recent years, Beijing has intensified pressure on the island through air incursions, naval patrols, and large-scale military exercises around the Taiwan Strait. Yui rejected Beijing's characterisation that Taiwan was provoking tensions.

Gates Warns of Blockade Risk

Former US Defence Secretary Robert Gates, also speaking on CBS News, offered a stark assessment of China's military options. Rather than an outright invasion, Gates warned that Beijing could exert pressure through economic strangulation or a naval blockade. 'They could create a blockade or a quarantine around Taiwan anytime they wanted,' he said.

Despite concerns over growing US weapons shortages linked to ongoing conflicts, Gates urged Washington to proceed with pending arms deliveries to Taiwan, arguing that deterrence required credible supply.

What Comes Next

The episode underscores the fragility of Taiwan's strategic position as US-China relations enter a new phase of transactional diplomacy. Whether Washington moves forward with the pending weapons package — or uses it as a bargaining instrument — will be closely watched by allies across the Indo-Pacific as a signal of American reliability on security commitments.