A senior Democratic lawmaker criticized President Donald Trump for suggesting discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping about future US arms sales to Taiwan, calling it a departure from longstanding American policy. Indian American Congressman Ro Khanna, Ranking Member of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, expressed alarm at Trump’s remarks. Khanna emphasized that such talks would contradict established US commitments, including the Six Assurances dating back to the Reagan era.
President Trump’s statements on consulting with Xi Jinping regarding arms sales to Taiwan have intensified US-China strategic tensions. Khanna argued that treating Taiwan as a bargaining chip in trade negotiations with China undermines America’s commitments to its allies. He urged the White House to clarify its stance and uphold the continuity of policy, emphasizing that Taiwan’s security should not be compromised.
The Six Assurances, a set of policy principles maintained by every US administration since President Reagan, include commitments regarding arms sales to Taiwan. Unlike the Taiwan Relations Act, these assurances are not yet legally binding. Congress is currently working on legislation to formalize these principles through the Six Assurances to Taiwan Act, aiming to strengthen US-Taiwan relations and ensure Taiwan’s security.
The Taiwan Relations Act, enacted in 1979 after the US shifted diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing, guides unofficial US relations with Taiwan. It mandates the provision of defensive arms to Taiwan, reinforcing the island’s security amid regional tensions. Khanna’s call for clarity and policy consistency reflects concerns over potential shifts in US commitments to Taiwan amidst evolving US-China relations.
