Is Taiwan Becoming a Bargaining Chip?

The ambiguous outcome of the recent Trump–Xi summit raised a deeper question: Is Taiwan quietly becoming negotiable?

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te (L) and Paraguay's President Santiago Pena Palacios review the honor guards during a welcome ceremony in front of the Presidential building in Taipei on May 8, 2026. I-Hwa Cheng/AFP via Getty Images

Commentary

With the first of four scheduled summit meetings between President Donald Trump and Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader Xi Jinping now in the rearview mirror, both sides publicly projected confidence. Beijing emphasized cooperation. Trump emphasized trade, markets, and “strong relationships.”