Trump says he plans to speak with Taiwan’s president in major break from US protocol
US President Donald Trump has said he intends to speak directly with Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te, signaling a possible break from longstanding US diplomatic protocol and risking further tensions with China.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Trump confirmed he planned to talk with Lai before deciding whether to approve a major new arms package for Taiwan.
“I’ll speak to him. I speak to everybody… we’ll work on that, the Taiwan problem,” Trump said.
The comments immediately drew criticism from Beijing, which views Taiwan as part of China and strongly opposes official exchanges between Taiwanese and US leaders.
A spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry said Beijing “firmly opposes official exchanges between the United States and Taiwan,” as well as American arms sales to the self-governed island.
China also urged Washington to “stop sending wrong signals to separatist forces in Taiwan.”
The potential conversation comes after Trump’s recent high-profile summit in Beijing with Chinese President Xi Jinping, which Trump described as “amazing.”
Taiwan remains one of the most sensitive issues in US-China relations.
Although the United States officially recognizes Beijing rather than Taipei diplomatically, Washington remains legally obligated under the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979 to provide Taiwan with defensive military support.
Trump has not yet decided whether to approve a reported $14 billion arms package for Taiwan that could include anti-drone systems and advanced air-defense missiles.
According to reports, Beijing is closely watching the decision and has delayed approving a planned visit by senior Pentagon official Elbridge Colby until Washington clarifies its position on the deal.
While returning from Beijing aboard Air Force One last week, Trump hinted that he would soon make a decision regarding the proposed arms sale.
“I have to speak to the person that right now is… running Taiwan,” he told reporters.
During the summit in Beijing, Xi reportedly warned Trump that Taiwan could become a source of direct conflict between China and the United States if handled improperly.
Trump later acknowledged that Xi felt “very strongly” about the issue but insisted he had made “no commitment either way.”
Taiwanese officials responded positively to Trump’s remarks.
Taiwan’s foreign ministry said President Lai would be “happy” to discuss maintaining stability in the Taiwan Strait and strengthening regional peace.
Lai has repeatedly described Taiwan as a “sovereign, independent democratic country” and argued that continued US arms support is essential for regional security.
The comments revive memories of Trump’s 2016 phone call with former Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen shortly after he was elected president a move that broke decades of diplomatic convention and triggered formal complaints from Beijing.
Trump has also suggested he discussed Taiwan arms sales directly with Xi, another statement that raised eyebrows because the United States previously assured Taiwan it would not consult Beijing about weapons sales decisions.
When questioned about that historical policy, Trump dismissed it by saying the 1980s were “a long way” in the past.
The Biden-era US government approved a major arms sale to Taiwan in late 2025 worth approximately $11 billion, drawing sharp condemnation from China.
Meanwhile, Taiwan has significantly increased defense spending under Lai’s leadership as Chinese military activity around the island continues to intensify.
Although many people in Taiwan identify as separate from mainland China, most support maintaining the current status quo rather than formally declaring independence or unifying with Beijing.
The possibility of direct communication between Trump and Lai is now likely to further complicate already fragile US-China relations as tensions over Taiwan continue to grow.
