Washington: The White House's decision to omit any mention of Taiwan in its official summary of discussions between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping suggests that Washington does not consider the issue open for negotiation, according to analysts. This observation came after the two leaders engaged in more than two hours of talks in Beijing during Trump's state visit to China.

According to Focus Taiwan, the readouts from both sides showed a stark difference in emphasis concerning Taiwan. Patricia Kim, a China expert at the Brookings Institution, noted that the contrasting summaries highlight differing messaging strategies, with Beijing aiming to underscore its firm stance on Taiwan, while Washington focused on economic cooperation.

China's state-run Xinhua News Agency reported that President Xi described Taiwan as "the most important issue" in U.S.-China relations and cautioned that mishandling it could lead to "clashes and even conflicts." In contrast, the White House's summary did not mention Taiwan, concentrating instead on discussions about economic cooperation and Iran. Kim emphasized that this divergence illustrates a fundamental "gap in interpretation" regarding the U.S. "one China" policy.

Although Washington does not support Taiwan's independence, it insists that arms sales and security cooperation with Taiwan are essential to prevent the island from negotiating with Beijing under duress. Kim pointed out that Beijing perceives these U.S. actions as encouraging Taiwan's independence, a perspective that continues to fuel tensions.

Thomas Shattuck, a senior program manager at the University of Pennsylvania's Perry World House, asserted that the omission of Taiwan from the White House readout was itself a message. He explained that Taiwan is a top priority for China, and by not including it, the U.S. signals that it is not up for negotiation.

Prior to the summit, Trump had indicated he might discuss U.S. arms sales to Taiwan with Xi, causing concerns in Taiwan about potential shifts in U.S. policy. Although reports suggested Trump delayed finalizing a major arms package for Taiwan to ensure smooth summit proceedings, Shattuck believes long-term sales are unlikely to be blocked due to their economic benefits to the U.S.

Shattuck noted that foreign military sales create U.S. jobs, aligning with Trump's economic and manufacturing priorities. Following the summit, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reaffirmed that U.S. policy toward Taiwan remains unchanged, providing reassurance for Taiwan.

"For now, it looks like the worst outcomes have been avoided," Kim concluded, suggesting a measure of relief for Taiwan amidst ongoing U.S.-China relations.