U.S. President Donald Trump revealed Monday he is discussing potential arms sales to Taiwan with Chinese President Xi Jinping, reigniting concerns over a possible shift in Washington’s longstanding policy toward the island. His remarks, made during a press briefing, suggest a departure from the Six Assurances—non-binding U.S. guidelines since 1982 that prohibit consulting Beijing on Taiwan defense deals. Experts warn this could embolden China to demand greater influence over U.S. military aid to Taipei, undermining decades of strategic ambiguity.

The $11 billion arms package approved in December has already drawn sharp criticism from Beijing, which views Taiwan as a breakaway province. Xi warned earlier this month that the U.S. must handle such sales "with prudence," emphasizing the Taiwan question as the cornerstone of Sino-American relations. Analysts argue Trump’s openness to discussing the issue with Xi risks normalizing Beijing’s involvement in a matter traditionally handled unilaterally by Washington, potentially weakening Taiwan’s security guarantees under the Taiwan Relations Act.

Taiwan’s government, led by President Lai Ching-te, faces domestic pressure to secure funding for existing U.S. defense commitments. Opposition lawmakers plan to review a stalled $40 billion defense budget post-Lunar New Year, highlighting fiscal vulnerabilities. Meanwhile, Trump’s April visit to China is expected to address the issue, amplifying uncertainty about U.S. resolve to defend Taiwan amid rising cross-strait military tensions.

This development underscores the fragility of U.S.-Taiwan relations and the broader strategic competition between Washington and Beijing. As China ramps up military drills near the island, Trump’s comments threaten to erode trust in American commitments, leaving Taipei increasingly exposed to Beijing’s coercive tactics.