China warns US over arms sales to Taiwan as Trump visits Beijing for summit with X

As US President Donald Trump arrives in Beijing for a high-stakes summit with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, Washington’s massive weapons deal with Taiwan has intensified tensions, drawing strong condemnation from China over interference in its domestic affairs.

China reiterated its strong opposition to the United States over its expanding military support for Taiwan on Wednesday ahead of the Trump-Xi meeting in Beijing, warning Washington to respect its longstanding commitments under the “One China” policy.

Trump is in Beijing from May 13 to 15 for a state visit,  the first by a US president since 2017, when Trump himself met Xi Jinping during his first term.

China has sovereignty over Taiwan, and under the “One China” policy, almost all countries, including the US, recognize that sovereignty.

The dispute over Taiwan is expected to dominate talks between the two leaders after the Trump administration approved an $11 billion arms package for the self-ruled island - the largest ever – back in December.

Chinese officials stressed that Taiwan remains a purely domestic issue, condemning all military cooperation between the island and Washington, which does not have formal diplomatic ties with it.

“We firmly oppose the United States engaging in any form of military ties with China's Taiwan region, and firmly oppose the United States selling weapons to China's Taiwan region. This position is consistent and unequivocal,” said Zhang Han, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, during a regular news conference in Beijing.

Zhang also described Taiwan as the “core of China's core interests” and said the US was obligated to honor prior commitments made to Beijing.

China warns US against ‘plotting’ on Taiwan, says it risks confrontation

China has warned the United States against any attempts to interfere with Taiwan, warning that it could lead to direct confrontation between the two largest economies in the world.

The controversy has deepened after Taiwan’s opposition-controlled parliament approved only two-thirds of a proposed $40 billion defense budget sought by Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te.

While funding for US weapons purchases was preserved, several domestic military projects, including drone programs, were cut.

US officials expressed disappointment, while Taiwanese authorities feared Beijing could use the reduced budget to persuade Trump to scale back military backing for the island.

Reuters had earlier reported that another potential US arms package worth $14 billion could follow after Trump’s two-day visit, though its status remains uncertain.

Despite repeated warnings from Beijing, Lai – during the Copenhagen Democracy Summit on Tuesday - insisted that Taiwan was a “sovereign, independent nation,” comments that infuriate China.

Elsewhere in her comments on Wednesday, Zhang stressed that Taiwan “has never been, and would never be, a country.”

“Our resolve to oppose Taiwan independence is as firm as a rock, and our capability to crush Taiwan independence is unbreakable,” she further emphasized.

China has never renounced the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control, however, it stresses that it seeks “peaceful reunification.”

Beijing has also repeatedly warned that foreign interference and separatist moves by Taiwan threaten regional stability.

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