Overview

• China has asked the Trump administration to formally state that the United States opposes Taiwan independence, a stronger formulation than recent U.S. language of not supporting independence, according to reporting first detailed by the Wall Street Journal.
• The request is described by U.S. officials as one item on a long list under consideration, while the State Department has reiterated that Washington opposes any unilateral changes to the status quo from either side.
• Trump and Xi are expected to meet at an Asia‑Pacific summit in South Korea, with potential reciprocal visits in 2026, as Beijing seeks to leverage trade negotiations and cooperation on issues such as fentanyl.
• Recent U.S. moves — delaying military aid to Taipei and denying President Lai Ching‑te a U.S. transit stop — have fueled concern that support for Taiwan may be weighed against trade priorities, though officials say no policy change has been decided.
• Beijing continues to signal pressure on Taiwan, with China’s U.S. embassy rejecting any official or military U.S.–Taiwan ties and separate reports citing leaked documents that Moscow agreed to train and equip Chinese paratroopers for potential operations.