TAIPEI - Taiwan's government said on Wednesday that the decision about when a phone conversation between U.S. President Donald Trump and Taiwan's leader might occur rests solely with the U.S. president, and that the suggestion of such contact has heightened Beijing's sensitivity.
President Trump announced after meeting Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing last month that he would speak with Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te. No U.S. president is known to have talked directly with a Taiwanese leader since the United States recognised China's government in Beijing in 1979.
Addressing reporters at the Taiwan Foreign Correspondents Club in Taipei, Taiwan's Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung said the timing of any call is a matter for Trump alone. "We are ready to have a call at any time, but I cannot answer on his behalf," Lin said.
Lin added that the prospect of a presidential call had unnerved Beijing. "Of course, this topic has also made the Chinese communists nervous, because in their understanding, you are not allowed to do anything or have any contact" with Taiwan, he said. "It is clear that the Chinese communists care a great deal about this matter, which makes it even more complicated. Still, I think none of us can answer this question on behalf of Trump."
Beijing considers democratically governed Taiwan to be part of its territory and opposes official engagement between Taiwan's government and foreign officials. China’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Taiwan rejects Beijing's claim of sovereignty over the island. In addition to the proposed call, President Trump has said he is weighing whether to approve another U.S. arms package for Taiwan. That potential package has been reported as being worth around $14 billion.
Lin referenced U.S. officials' descriptions of the sale as still being reviewed rather than paused. "The pace can be fast or slow; it could be one package or several packages. This is actually a more technical issue. But the Trump-Xi meeting has not caused the United States to stop or cancel arms sales to Taiwan," he said.
Context and implications
Taiwan's statement emphasises institutional readiness for direct contact with the United States while acknowledging limits on its ability to influence U.S. decision-making. The comments underline the diplomatic sensitivity surrounding high-level interactions between U.S. officials and Taiwan, given Beijing's firmly stated objections.
On the question of military support, Taiwan pointed to ongoing U.S. procedural review of arms transfers rather than any formal suspension tied to recent high-level diplomacy.
Summary
Taiwan says only President Trump can decide when he might make a call to Taiwan's president and noted that the idea has made Beijing uneasy. Taiwan is prepared for a call at any time and stresses that U.S. arms sales remain under review but have not been cancelled.