00:02A possible conversation between Taiwan and U.S. leaders.
00:06On Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters he plans to speak with Taiwan President
00:12Lai Qingde. The second time Trump has suggested such talks since meeting Chinese President Xi
00:17Jinping in mid-May. This comes as Washington considers whether to move ahead with the 14
00:23billion U.S. dollar arms sales to Taiwan, a potential deal that has strong criticism from
00:29Beijing. Well, I'll speak to him. I speak to everybody. We have that situation very well
00:36in hand. We had a great meeting with President Xi. It was amazing, actually. It was amazing.
00:42Many of you were there. We'll work on that Taiwan problem. Trump did not say when the conversation
00:49could take place. But Taiwanese officials welcomed the possibility, with President Lai on Wednesday
00:56even hinting at what he would say to Trump.
01:20Trump's stance on U.S.-Taiwan ties and arms sales has come under scrutiny after he described
01:25weapon sales as a good bargaining chip with China. Some have also pointed to Trump's use of the
01:32phrase, the Taiwan problem, language often used by Beijing, as further evidence that Xi Jinping's
01:38framing may be influencing Trump's Taiwan stance. At the same time, bipartisan U.S. lawmakers have
01:44voiced support for Taiwan and recognized its economic importance.
01:48Taiwan security is not a bargaining chip. It's central to deterrence in the Indo-Pacific.
01:54And allies like South Korea are watching closely to see whether American commitments remain firm.
02:00But when you explain to them that Taiwan owns or controls 90 percent of the advanced semiconductor
02:08chips globally, and if China does invade, they either own or break that.
02:13It would send, you know, the global economy into a tailspin.
02:19As Taiwan and the U.S. prepare for a potential high-level conversation, China is also closely
02:25watching. Reporting suggests that a China visit by Elbridge Colby, a top-level Pentagon official,
02:32is being held up by Beijing until Trump decides what he will do with the arms package.
02:38Fu Hua Hong and Ellen Lu for Taiwan Plus.
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