Washington: U.S. President Donald Trump revealed on Monday that he plans to raise the issues of arms sales to Taiwan and the imprisonment of media mogul Jimmy Lai with Chinese President Xi Jinping during his visit to Beijing this week. The U.S. leader confirmed to reporters at the White House the U.S. government's long-standing stance in supporting Taiwan's defense, stating that while President Xi may not want the U.S. to take such action, this issue will certainly be one of the key topics of discussion.
According to Thai News Agency, China continues to claim sovereignty over Taiwan, a democratic country, while Taiwan has consistently rejected these claims. The United States, while adhering to the "One China policy" and acknowledging China's position, has not commented on Taiwan's sovereignty. The US remains Taiwan's most important ally and has a legal obligation to assist with national defense. The issue of arms deliveries has been a recurring source of conflict in US-China relations, particularly after President Trump approved the largest arms sale to date, worth over $11 billion, last December.
Jimmy Lai, the founder of the now-closed Apple Daily newspaper, was sentenced to 20 years in prison in February on charges of conspiring with foreign forces and publishing content inciting resistance against the state. This case has sparked global concern over the enforcement of Hong Kong's national security law, amid criticism from foreign governments and international human rights groups.