Xi Threat Sharpens Taiwan Risk

Insight & analysis on the White House and Capitol Hill.

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After Xi Jinping regaled Donald Trump with goose-stepping soldiers and flag-waving children, the Chinese leader’s warning that Taiwan could lead to “clashes” between the superpowers amounted to a thunderclap in the choreographed world of Communist Party politics.

Cautioning American presidents against interfering with the self-ruled island is standard practice for China. But Xi’s assertion that it could trigger a “highly dangerous situation” for the world’s biggest economies marked his bluntest language yet on the topic. Beijing’s decision to release Xi’s remarks before the nearly two-and-a-half hour huddle was even over underscored the gravity of the message.

Trump must now grapple with whether Xi will actually allow Taiwan to derail the broader relationship, particularly with the Chinese leader set to visit the White House in September — the second of four planned meetings this year. Any effort by the Republican leader to quash a planned $14 billion US arms sale to Taipei would likely unleash a bipartisan backlash in Washington, at a time when he already faces voter unhappiness over the Iran war. If the deal is approved, Trump will face Beijing’s wrath.

Bloomberg Washington Correspondents Joe Mathieu and Kailey Leinz deliver insight and analysis on the latest headlines from the White House and Capitol Hill, including conversations with influential lawmakers and key figures in politics and policy. On this edition, Joe and Kailey speak with:

• Bloomberg Washington Correspondent Tyler Kendall.
• Republican Senator Ted Budd of North Carolina.
• Stonecourt Capital Partner Rick Davis and Bulluy Pulpit International Managing Director Adam Hodge.
• Democratic Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi.
• Republican Senator Steve Daines of Montana.
• Bloomberg Senior Editor for Technology and Strategic Industries Michael Shepard.

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