The top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Jeanne Shaheen, said this morning that she is “very worried about what the president is going to say on Taiwan” during his summit with Xi.
“I think it’s absolutely critical that we make it clear that the United States’ policy with respect to Taiwan has not changed,” Shaheen, D-N.H., said. “And I’m very worried about what the president is going to say on Taiwan, because we know that that’s something that President Xi wants. We know that President Trump is going into this meeting in a weakened position, and so I hope he doesn’t give away the store. “
Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., who sits on the Armed Services and Intelligence Committees, emphasized the importance of Taiwan’s independence from mainland China for national security and trade reasons, noting that Taiwan is a democracy and a major manufacturer of advanced computer chips.
“And so if China were to be able to take over that portion of the supply chain, once again you would find our country and other countries at risk, because that part of the supply chain is critical to us as well,” Rounds said.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., told reporters that he hopes Trump’s meeting with Xi will provide “a better understanding about our commitment to Taiwan,” but also expressed concern that Trump will discuss U.S. weapons sales to Taiwan with Xi.
“I am absolutely deeply concerned about possibly Trump, in effect, selling out Taiwan,” said Blumenthal, who also sits on the Armed Services Committee.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., also voiced concerns about the issue in remarks on the Senate floor this morning, saying, “We all ought to fear what Donald Trump may concede to China, just so he can claim a headline.”
“Donald Trump could sell out Taiwan, whose peoples want to continue living in freedom instead of under the jackboot of the Chinese Communist Party,” Schumer added. “Any threat Trump allows Xi Jinping to make against the Taiwanese is a threat to the global democracy. It’s also a threat to the global economy, given how many semiconductor shifts are made in Taiwan.”