The Trump administration has been sending mixed signals when it comes to Taiwan.
Last December, the US announced an $11bn (£8bn) arms deal with Taiwan, infuriating the Chinese government in the process. Trump, however, has downplayed the US willingness to defend Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory.
“He considers it to be a part of China,” Trump said of Xi, “and that’s up to him, what he’s going to be doing.”
He has also said Taiwan does not adequately reimburse the US for its security guarantees, adding that it “doesn’t give us anything”. Last year, he imposed a 15% tariff on Taiwan and accused it of stealing semiconductor manufacturing from the US.
Last week, Rubio said that Taiwan will be a topic of conversation during the visit, although the goal will be ensuring that the issue does not become a source of new tension between the two superpowers.
“We don’t need any destabilising events to occur with regards to Taiwan or anywhere in the Indo-Pacific,” he said. “And I think that’s to the mutual benefit of both the United States and the Chinese.”