US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to meet in Washington next Thursday (September 24). Beyond artificial intelligence (AI), trade, and Iran, the Taiwan issue is also drawing attention. US Senator Pete Ricketts said on Tuesday (the 16th) that Washington should discuss Taiwan with China under its existing policy position and make clear that “the use of force to change the status quo of Taiwan will not be tolerated.”
Speaking at a Hudson Institute panel that day, Ricketts said the US goal is to avoid war, since a US-China conflict would benefit neither side nor the rest of the world. He believes maintaining a channel of communication between Trump and Xi helps both sides understand each other’s positions.
On the Taiwan issue, Ricketts stressed that it is crucial for Taiwan to continue strengthening its own deterrence capabilities. In addition to US support, Taiwan must keep investing in its own defense. He also noted that the US currently has a backlog of about US$30 billion in arms sales to Taiwan, and that rather than approving new arms sales, Washington should prioritize ensuring the timely delivery of weapons already promised.
Besides Taiwan, AI could also become a topic at the Trump-Xi summit. Ricketts said that even if the US has doubts about whether China will honor its commitments, the two sides still need to engage in dialogue on AI; while establishing safety safeguards, the US must not limit its own capacity for innovation.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent revealed that he will meet with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng ahead of the Trump-Xi summit. He said Trump and Xi are expected to continue discussing the Iran issue, as well as financial dealings between China and Iran. As for the recently controversial issue of AI safety regulation, Bessent argued that AI companies should bear legal responsibility for the products they develop.
