Taipei: A visiting United States senator expressed on Tuesday that the anticipated meeting between President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping might be beneficial for Taiwan's security. Strengthened relations between Washington and Beijing could lead to a safer environment for Taipei.

According to Focus Taiwan, Republican Senator John Curtis, who was speaking to reporters in Taipei, emphasized that the proposed high-level talks should not necessarily be perceived as a threat to Taiwan. He elaborated that a robust U.S.-China relationship would likely protect Taiwan, as a deteriorated relationship could provoke aggressive actions from China towards Taiwan. Curtis highlighted the importance of open communication channels between the U.S. and Chinese leaders to reduce the probability of any aggression.

President Trump announced last week his plan to meet Xi in China on May 14-15, a trip postponed due to the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran. This visit would be the first by a sitting U.S. president to China in almost a decade. While some local opposition figures and commentators worry that Taiwan might be used as a negotiation tool during the discussions, Curtis reassured that stronger U.S.-China ties could prevent such an outcome.

Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen, also part of the Senate delegation, commented on the planned meeting between Kuomintang (KMT) Chairperson Cheng Li-wun and Xi scheduled for next week. She welcomed dialogue but stressed that China should engage with leaders across Taiwan's political spectrum. Shaheen urged that if China communicates with one party, it should extend the dialogue to all involved parties.

Cheng's visit to China, from April 7-12, marks the first meeting between a KMT leader and a Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader since 2016 when then-KMT Chairperson Hung Hsiu-chu met Xi in Beijing. Curtis and Shaheen addressed the media during a press conference in Taipei, concluding a brief two-day visit that also included Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV).

Shaheen noted that during their visit, the delegation toured Taiwan's National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) and observed advancements in drone and missile defense technologies. She emphasized the need for Taiwan to invest more resources in its defense capabilities and urged Taiwanese lawmakers to pass a special defense budget bill. This bill would fund the purchase of U.S. weapons systems and support the development of Taiwan's asymmetric defense capabilities.

All four senators underscored the urgency for Taiwan's legislative body to approve the defense budget to enhance its self-defense systems, ensuring the island's security in the face of regional challenges.