Xi to Press Trump on Taiwan Arms Sales at Summit

Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to press President Donald Trump to halt U.S. arms sales to Taiwan during a Washington summit this week, with Beijing planning to invoke a 1982 joint communique, according to three people familiar with the discussions. Xi is scheduled to arrive in Washington on Wednesday, September 23, with formal talks with Trump due Thursday and a visit to the U.S. National Archives on Friday. People briefed on the matter said Xi could raise the arms sales issue during that archives visit. Beijing is likely to focus on Washington's commitments under the third of three joint communiques between the two countries, signed in 1982. Under that agreement, the United States said it intended to gradually reduce arms sales to Taiwan and did not seek long-term weapons sales to Taipei. An accompanying memorandum from then-President Ronald Reagan stated that any reductions were conditioned absolutely upon China's continued commitment to the peaceful resolution of differences with Taiwan. China's demands extend beyond future approvals. People familiar with the discussions said Beijing has also asked Washington to stop deliveries of weapons already ordered by Taiwan.