Xi Calls for Taiwan Reunification, Trump Discussed Arms Sales as 'Negotiating Chip'

Chinese President Xi Jinping called for advancing efforts towards reunification with Taiwan in his annual National Day address on Wednesday evening.

He reiterated Beijing's pledge to resolutely combat 'Taiwan independence' separatist forces and oppose interference by external forces. This address followed his state visit to the United States last week, where he told US President Donald Trump that Washington should oppose Taiwan's independence. Beijing claims democratic Taiwan as part of its territory and has not ruled out using force.

During the summit, Trump discussed US arms sales to Taiwan with Xi, a practice no US president had engaged in since 1982. In May, Trump referred to a $14 billion arms package for Taiwan as a negotiating chip in dealings with China, and the package remains unsigned since March. The summit, which also covered trade, rare earths, and artificial intelligence, aimed to stabilize US-China ties, but analysts noted it produced few concrete deliverables beyond extending an existing trade truce.

Xi's National Day speech also projected confidence in China's economy, calling for robust growth and stability amid a complex and intricate domestic and international landscape. He emphasized balancing growth with national security and pledged to implement the one country, two systems principle for Hong Kong and Macau. A commitment to cooperate on recovering remains of US servicemen missing in China since World War II was also an outcome of the summit. Trump praised brave American pilots of the Flying Tigers, invoking the countries' World War II alliance.