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Trump's China summit concludes with mixed results; Taiwan arms sales used as bargaining chip

May 17, 2026

Summary

President Trump's summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping concluded with an agreement to establish trade and investment councils and China's commitment to buy US aircraft. However, Trump used potential Taiwan arms sales as a bargaining chip, raising questions about US-China relations and Taiwan's independence.

How coverage differs

  • Left: Trump's China deals undermine Taiwan's sovereignty, spark market uncertainty Left-leaning outlets focused on the implications of President Trump's remarks regarding Taiwan, highlighting Taiwan's swift response asserting its sovereignty and independence. They also noted the negative market reaction following the summit due to a lack of specific deal details, suggesting uncertainty in US-China relations.

Coverage by lane

Left

  • In response to Trump, Taiwan says it is ‘sovereign and independent’
  • Markets tumble after Trump's China summit, lack of specific deal details
  • Taiwan says it is an independent nation after Trump arms sale remarks

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