Trump Says He Will Speak with Taiwan President, Breaking 1979 Protocol

President Donald Trump said Wednesday he intends to speak with Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te about a possible arms sale, a move that would represent a sharp departure from diplomatic tradition.

U.S. and Taiwanese leaders have not held direct talks since 1979, when Washington cut formal diplomatic ties with Taipei to establish relations with Beijing.

China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has not ruled out using force to achieve unification. The United States has long backed the self-governing island and is legally obligated to help it maintain self-defense capabilities, while also seeking to preserve diplomatic ties with China.

In 2016, while president-elect, Trump accepted a phone call from Taiwan's then-leader Tsai Ing-wen, drawing strong objections from Beijing.

President Lai, who took office in 2024, has led one of the most aggressive efforts in recent years to bolster the island's defenses.

Asked Wednesday whether he intended to speak with Lai before deciding on U.S. arms sales, Trump said: "I'll speak to him. I speak to everybody.. we'll work on that, the Taiwan problem."

Trump also praised his relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping as "amazing" following a two-day summit in Beijing last week.

Asked about the potential conversation, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Thursday that China "firmly opposes official exchanges between the United States and Taiwan" as well as U.S. arms sales to Taiwan.

The spokesperson urged the United States to "stop sending wrong signals to the separatist forces in Taiwan."

In 1979, the United States enacted the Taiwan Relations Act, which authorizes Washington to "provide Taiwan with arms of a defensive character." This law underpins continued U.S. weapons sales to the island.

Trump said he has not yet decided whether to approve a $14 billion (£10.4 billion) arms package to Taiwan, reported to include anti-drone equipment and air-defense missile systems.

According to a Financial Times report, Beijing is blocking a proposed visit by the Pentagon's top policy official, Elbridge Colby, stating it cannot authorize the trip until Trump decides on the arms deal.

Last week, flying back from Beijing on Air Force One after his meeting with Xi, Trump was similarly asked about arms sales to Taiwan. He said he would "make a determination over the next fairly short period."

"I have to speak to the person that right now is, you know who he is, that's running Taiwan," he said.

During Trump's visit to Beijing, China made clear that Taiwan remains one of the biggest issues in bilateral ties. Xi warned of "conflict" between the two superpowers if the matter is mishandled.

Trump dismissed the possibility of conflict over Taiwan but acknowledged that Xi feels "very strongly" about the issue. "I made no commitment either way," he told reporters aboard Air Force One.

Since the Trump-Xi meeting, Lai has released statements describing Taiwan as a "sovereign, independent democratic country" and saying that peace in the Taiwan Strait will not be "sacrificed or traded away."

Lai has also stressed that U.S. arms sales are a "key factor in maintaining regional peace and stability."

Taiwan's Foreign Ministry said Thursday that Lai would be "happy" to discuss with Trump issues related to "maintaining the stable status quo in the Taiwan Strait."

Trump's 2016 break with tradition prompted China to file a formal complaint with the United States over the phone call.

Trump also said he discussed the arms sales "in great detail" with Xi — another surprising departure from U.S. policy if accurate.

In 1982, the United States assured Taiwan it would not consult Beijing on arms sales to the island. Asked about that commitment while returning from Beijing, Trump said the 1980s was "a long way" back.

Last December, the United States approved an $11 billion (£8.2 billion) arms sale to Taiwan — one of the largest ever — which drew sharp criticism from Beijing.

Under President Lai, Taiwan has significantly increased defense spending to counter growing military pressure from China.

Many Taiwanese identify as part of a separate nation, though a majority favor maintaining the status quo — neither declaring formal independence nor seeking unification with China.