Ahead of Trump-Xi meeting, Beijing offers help on Iran in exchange for concessions on Taiwan

The agency cites three sources familiar with the Sino-American discussions. Their account links Taiwan and Iran as two issues now intertwined in the negotiations leading up to Xi Jinping’s state visit to the United States.

Xi Jinping is expected to reference the 1982 Sino-American joint communiqué, in which Washington indicated its intention to gradually reduce arms sales to Taiwan. However, a memorandum from Ronald Reagan specified that this reduction was contingent upon Beijing’s commitment to a peaceful resolution of the dispute with the island.

The stakes are now quantified. The Trump administration approved an $11 billion arms package for Taiwan in December, while a second package of approximately $14 billion has been pending for several months. Following his May summit with Xi Jinping in Beijing, Donald Trump himself presented this issue as a bargaining chip.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry has confirmed that Xi Jinping will make a state visit to the United States from September 23 to 25, and that the two leaders are set to discuss key bilateral and international issues. However, Beijing has not publicly confirmed the existence of the bargaining described by Reuters.

Taiwan, a Chinese red line

China views Taiwan as a core sovereignty issue and has long demanded an end to U.S. arms sales to the island. The United States does not recognize Taiwan as an independent state, but its legislation commits it to providing Taipei with the means to defend itself. The Taiwanese government, for its part, rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims.

The Iranian aspect adds another dimension to the negotiations. On September 16, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi that Beijing was ready to play a constructive role in facilitating a resumption of discussions between Washington and Tehran and to contribute to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

In Taiwan, military tensions remain high. The island has recently conducted exercises combining, for the first time, attack drones, anti-aircraft missiles, and anti-ship weapons, ahead of the Trump-Xi meeting. These maneuvers come as Taipei closely monitors the status of already ordered U.S. deliveries.

The White House is planning an official welcoming ceremony for Xi Jinping on Thursday, September 24, followed by talks with Donald Trump. A visit to the U.S. National Archives is also scheduled for Friday, a venue where the 1982 Sino-American communiqué could become a focal point of discussions, according to sources cited by Reuters.