Washington: U.S. President Donald Trump's recent remarks about negotiating Taiwan arms sales with Beijing have sparked significant concern, leading to calls for Congress to enshrine the 1982 "Six Assurances" security pledges into law.
According to Focus Taiwan, the controversy began when Trump, during a conversation aboard Air Force One, mentioned discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping about potential future arms sales to Taiwan. This statement raised alarms among U.S. lawmakers and Taiwan policy experts, given Xi's previous warnings regarding such sales.
"I'm talking to him about it. We had a good conversation, and we'll make a determination pretty soon," Trump commented, emphasizing his positive relationship with Xi.
In response, U.S. Representative Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) expressed his alarm in a Tuesday press release, describing Trump's comments as a "blatant violation of U.S. policy and the Six Assurances." Khanna urged Trump to reaffirm the United States' commitment to these assurances, which explicitly state that the U.S. has not agreed to consult China on arms sales to Taiwan.
U.S. Senator Andy Kim (D-N.J.) also voiced concerns, suggesting that Trump's remarks represent a disturbing shift away from long-standing U.S. policy. "Even if he decides to move forward with these sales, we're in dangerous territory now," Kim warned, highlighting the potential risks to U.S.-Taiwan relations.
The implications of Trump's comments have been widely discussed by experts. Ryan Hass, a former U.S. National Security Council official, noted that Beijing has persistently sought to make Washington consult on Taiwan arms sales-a demand consistently rejected by previous U.S. administrations. Hass argued that, regardless of Trump's decision, his comments have set a new precedent that benefits Xi.
Further complicating the situation, a Financial Times report suggested that the U.S. is planning up to $20 billion in arms sales to Taiwan. This follows a $11.1 billion package announced in December, despite Beijing's warnings that such moves could impact Trump's upcoming China visit.
The Six Assurances, established by the Reagan administration, include commitments that the U.S. would not set a timetable to end arms sales, would not consult Beijing on transfers, and would not alter its stance on Taiwan's sovereignty. While these assurances have historically guided U.S. policy, Richard Bush, former chairman of the American Institute in Taiwan, pointed out some ambiguity in the language used, which could allow for future consultations.
Meanwhile, Rush Doshi, a former NSC official, emphasized that decades of bipartisan consensus have effectively solidified the second assurance as a firm "will not" mandate regarding consultations with China.
Bonnie Glaser, managing director of the Indo-Pacific Program at the German Marshall Fund, explained that Reagan's true intention was to prevent any U.S. negotiations with Beijing over Taiwan arms sales, despite the nuanced language in the official records.
Observers have speculated about Trump's motivations, with Glaser suggesting he may delay arms sale announcements until after his upcoming summit with Xi. Alexander Gray, a former NSC chief of staff, argued that Trump is balancing support for Taiwan with his broader U.S.-China trade strategy.
In contrast, critics like Khanna accuse Trump of using Taiwan as a "bargaining chip" in negotiations with China. Khanna and others are pushing for the codification of the Six Assurances through new legislation, emphasizing the need to solidify these principles in U.S. law.
"Time to pass the Six Assurances to Taiwan Act," Glaser reiterated, highlighting the urgency of the legislative push.