Xi expected to press Trump to halt Taiwan arms sales under 1982 deal

Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to press U.S. President Donald Trump to halt arms sales to Taiwan under their 1982 joint communique during a Washington summit this week, three sources briefed on the talks told Reuters. Beijing sees Taiwan as its most sensitive issue and has also asked Washington to stop deliveries of weapons already ordered. In return, China is offering help to pressure Iran over the Middle East war, the sources said. A pending roughly $14 billion U.S. arms package for Taipei remains on hold after Trump called it a "very good negotiating chip" following a May meeting in Beijing. The United States is bound by law to help Taiwan defend itself and, under the Six Assurances, has not set a date to end arms sales. Xi arrives Wednesday for Thursday talks and a possible National Archives visit Friday tied to the 1982 statement; Taiwan’s foreign ministry said it is tracking the exchanges closely. Source: Reuters Would Trump trade Taiwan arms packages for Chinese help on Iran — or hold the line on Taipei’s defense? https://www.reuters.com/world/china/chinas-xi-expected-press-trump-halt-taiwan-arms-sales-under-1982-agreement-2026-09-22/