<figure id="attachment_3284647" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3284647" style="width: 1600px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-3284647" src="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/fdc06af2-taiwan-military.jpg" alt="" width="1600" height="1000" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3284647" class="wp-caption-text">Taiwan navy personnel launch an attack drone during the Military Combat Readiness Drill at a naval base in Kaohsiung. (EPA Images pic)</figcaption></figure>
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump said Monday he would decide soon on whether to send more weapons to Taiwan, after Chinese President Xi Jinping warned him not to.
&#8220;I&#8217;m talking to him about it. We had a good conversation, and we&#8217;ll make a determination pretty soon,&#8221; Trump said, adding that he has a &#8220;good relationship&#8221; with the Chinese leader, whose country claims the self-ruled island of Taiwan as its territory.
In a phone call with Trump on Feb 4, Xi called for &#8220;mutual respect&#8221; in relations with the United States, while warning Washington about arms sales to the democratically run island.
&#8220;The Taiwan question is the most important issue in China-US relations&#8230; The US must handle arms sales to Taiwan with caution,&#8221; Xi said, according to China&#8217;s state broadcaster.
China&#8217;s Communist Party has never ruled Taiwan, but Beijing claims the island of 23 million people is part of its territory and has not ruled out the use of force to annex it.
Washington does not officially recognise Taiwan, but is the island territory&#8217;s main military backer &#8211; although the tone of that support has softened slightly under Trump.
The United States approved US$11-billion worth of arms to Taiwan in December, Taipei said.
Shortly thereafter, China launched major live-fire drills to simulate a blockade around Taiwan&#8217;s key ports.

MatchPoint Times

Trump to decide ‘soon’ on sending weapons to Taiwan

The US president highlights his ‘good relationship’ with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, who warned against the arms sales.

Man dies after car plunges into river

Survey of German businesses shows bleak outlook for 2026