Controversial deal likely to be top of the agenda when Chinese President Xi Jinping speaks with his US counterpart Donald Trump by phone
China is expected to protest against the United States’ approval of an arms sale to Taiwan when the presidents of the two nations speak over the phone on Monday morning.
The call comes as frustration builds in the White House over North Korea’s nuclear programme and overcapacity in the steel market.
US officials said that as well as President Xi Jinping, US President Donald Trump will speak with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The phone calls are scheduled to start at 8am on Monday.
The US State Department on Thursday approved US$1.4 billion of arms sales to Taiwan, the first under President Trump.
US turns screws on China over North Korea with Taiwan arms deal
The move and other gestures – including blacklisting China’s Bank of Dandong over illicit dealings with North Korea – have infuriated Beijing, which accused Washington of interfering in its internal affairs and undermining Sino-US mutual confidence.
Wu Xinbo, director of the Centre for American Studies at Fudan University, said Xi is likely to use the call to protest against the approval of Taiwan arms deal.
“With the arms sale to Taiwan and the sanctions against China’s Bank of Dandong, the US is pressuring China on the North Korea issue, ” Wu said.
