Chinese President Xi Jinping is reportedly planning to pressure U.S. President Donald Trump to officially oppose Taiwan’s independence in exchange for a trade agreement, according to sources cited by The Wall Street Journal (WSJ). Xi aims to change U.S. policy to further isolate Taiwan, pushing for an official statement of opposition to Taiwan’s independence from the U.S.
Sources indicate that Xi is dissatisfied with the previous U.S. stance under former President Joe Biden, which stated that the U.S. does not support Taiwan’s independence—a position that had reassured China but did not deviate from America’s policy of strategic ambiguity. This policy acknowledged China’s claims over Taiwan without endorsing them.
The WSJ emphasizes that changing the U.S. position from “not supporting” to “officially opposing” Taiwan’s independence holds significant implications, signaling a shift from neutrality to opposing Taiwan’s sovereignty and aligning with China. This could also enhance Xi’s domestic authority. Chinese foreign policy advisers have already urged during negotiations that the U.S. should officially oppose Taiwan’s independence.
Xi plans to leverage President Trump’s desire for a trade deal between the two countries, as Trump has been criticized for backing down in negotiations with China despite his strong tariff policies and promotion of trade agreements with other nations. The Chinese side is also using rare earth export controls as a negotiation tool.
Recently, Trump highlighted a TikTok sale agreement brokered with Xi, opening the door for further talks. The two leaders are expected to meet at the next Asia-Pacific summit, with potential visits to Beijing by Trump in early 2026 and the U.S. by Xi in December of the same year.
Conversely, U.S.-Taiwan relations are becoming increasingly ambiguous. The Trump administration recently postponed some military support for Taiwan and refused a U.S. transit by Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, raising speculation that the U.S. is prioritizing a trade deal with China over its relations with Taiwan.
Furthermore, President Trump has publicly avoided stating whether the U.S. would intervene militarily if China invades Taiwan, likely intending to strengthen his negotiating position. In an August interview with Fox News, he claimed that China promised not to invade Taiwan during his presidency.