Trump Says He Will Talk to President Lai; White House Official Says Arms Sale Decision Coming Soon

(CNA, Washington, May 20) U.S. President Trump stated today that he will speak with Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te, saying he "will talk to everyone," but did not disclose a timeline. A White House official subsequently responded, noting that, as Trump has previously said, he will make a decision on a new U.S. arms sale to Taiwan in a short time. Donald Trump visited China last week and met with Chinese President Xi Jinping. After the summit, Trump had stated that a decision on a new arms sale to Taiwan would be made soon, and that he would talk with "the person who governs Taiwan." Today, at Joint Base Andrews, Trump was asked by the media during a joint interview if he planned to speak with President Lai before deciding on the arms sale. Trump replied, "I will talk to him, I talk to everyone," but did not elaborate on the timing. When a CNA reporter asked the White House about the expected timing of Trump's call with President Lai, the White House responded briefly, referring to Trump's earlier remarks. Additionally, a White House official, responding via email on background, reiterated, "As President Trump has said, he will make a decision on the new arms sale to Taiwan in a short time." The official mentioned that Trump approved an $11.1 billion arms sale to Taiwan last December, which is "consistent with U.S. policy since the 1950s," but did not specify which policy was being referred to. The official pointed out that the total value of arms sales to Taiwan approved during Trump's first presidential term exceeded that of any other U.S. president. And in his second term, the total value of arms sales approved in his first year has already surpassed the total for the entire four years of the Joe Biden administration. This response is identical to what a senior U.S. official told reporters last week. According to statistics from the US-Taiwan Business Council on arms sales to Taiwan by various U.S. presidents, the total for the Clinton administration was $8.702 billion, the George W. Bush administration was $15.614 billion, the Obama administration was $13.962 billion, Trump's first term was $18.278 billion, the Biden administration was $8.377 billion, and Trump's second term has so far reached $11.435 billion.