Taiwan expresses gratitude for US backing as Trump prepares Xi meeting

Taipei is monitoring the diplomatic engagement between Washington and Beijing with keen interest, according to a statement from Taiwan's cabinet spokesman Michelle Lee. The regional government maintained its position of gratitude towards the United States for its ongoing assistance, even as high-level talks between the two superpowers loom.

The anticipated Trump-Xi meeting carries significant implications for Taiwan, which has long sought to maintain stable relations with both Washington and Beijing. Taiwan's government indicated it would continue to assess how developments between the two major powers might affect the self-governed island's security and international standing.

Lee's remarks underscore Taipei's delicate diplomatic balancing act in a region where great power competition has intensified. Taiwan has historically relied on US support, including military aid and diplomatic recognition, to maintain its position amid growing pressure from Beijing, which claims the island as its own territory.

The Trump administration has previously signalled openness to engaging with China on various bilateral issues, though the parameters and outcomes of any future summit remain uncertain. Taiwan's careful observation of these diplomatic developments reflects the island's vulnerability to shifts in US-China relations and its dependence on sustained American backing.