World News

Trump, who has repeatedly touted his "great relationship" with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, has downplayed the ‌threat of ⁠the Chinese drills around Taiwan and said Xi told him he will not attack Taiwan while the U.S. president is in office - something Beijing has never confirmed.

Despite concerns in the U.S. and abroad about Trump's inclination to back Taiwan, his ​administration in December unveiled a record $11 billion ​sale of weapons for the ⁠island, angering Beijing, which says such arms deals must end.

Nonetheless, some Japanese officials have worried Trump may be prepared to soften support for Taiwan in pursuit of a trade accord with China, a move they fear will embolden Beijing ​and spark conflict in an increasingly militarized East Asia.

Tokyo had been unnerved by muted U.S. rhetorical support for Japanese ​Prime Minister Sanae ⁠Takaichi after her remarks last year that a hypothetical Chinese attack on Taiwan could bring about a Japanese military response. Trump reportedly told her privately not to escalate the ensuing diplomatic row with Beijing.

Possible interpretations that come to mind:

• Trump understands who had to bend when he tried his tariffs bullshit with China and it wasn't China, so his normal belligerence is reigned in a bit here because there's a real and obvious threat to being cavalier with China.
• It's another example of pretending to prioritize peace and deals, while looking to build up military and attack in a backstabbing way. Would fit with "sending arms" in spite of sounding like he's wanting to stay on China's good side for now.
• Reuters is misrepresenting the Trump admin position in some way because there's factional infighting among imperialists who don't like his approach to maintaining the empire.
• There is an intent to turn Japan into a proxy against China like Ukraine against Russia, but the US wants to come out looking like they don't endorse it and are distancing from it so that China won't cut them out of trade deals as a result.

Edit: phrasing