US-China summit exposes Trump's limits on Iran war, Taiwan

Donald Trump concluded his two-day visit to Beijing with Xi Jinping, where discussions centered on Iran and Taiwan. Trump expressed hopes that China could help end the Iran war, emphasizing the need to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and ensure the Strait of Hormuz remains open. Xi, however, focused on Taiwan, calling it the most critical issue in US-China relations and warning that mishandling it could lead to clashes. The US president praised Xi as a 'great leader' and claimed both leaders share similar views on ending the Iran conflict. However, Xi did not mention Iran in his public remarks, instead stressing Taiwan’s importance. He stated that proper handling of Taiwan could stabilize relations, while failure would risk conflicts endangering the entire relationship. Trump brought a delegation of CEOs, including Nvidia’s Jensen Huang, Apple’s Tim Cook, and Tesla’s Elon Musk, and claimed 'fantastic trade deals' were discussed, though no details were provided. Meanwhile, the US is preparing to sell $14 billion in weapons to Taiwan, but Trump delayed approval ahead of his meeting. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed Taiwan arms sales were discussed but not a primary focus. Analysts suggest Xi may have exploited Trump’s challenges in managing the Iran war to press harder on Taiwan. Trump remains undecided on the arms sale, and with Xi invited to Washington in September, the decision may be postponed. Taiwanese authorities rely on US support to deter a potential Chinese invasion, and delays in arms sales could weaken their defense capabilities.