Trump-Xi summit leaves Taiwan questions open: Experts

Taipei, Sept. 26 (CNA) U.S. President Donald Trump's meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) produced few surprises, but its implications for Taiwan will become clearer from Washington's actions after the summit, Taiwanese scholars said Saturday.

Speaking at a Taipei forum hosted by the Institute for National Policy Research, Chang Wu-ueh (張五岳), a senior advisor at the institute, described the outcome as "unsurprising."

Chang said the leaders' meeting helped manage differences but was unlikely to produce any major agreement on Taiwan.

"There is no possibility of Taiwan becoming a bargaining chip in a grand U.S.-China negotiation or deal," he said.

The more telling signs, Chang said, would come afterward: whether Washington proceeds with arms sales to Taiwan, permits stopovers by Taiwanese presidents, sends senior officials to Taiwan or advances measures supporting it.

According to China's account, Xi urged Washington to handle the Taiwan issue prudently and oppose Taiwan independence during Thursday's White House meeting.

Subsequent White House accounts described progress on economic and other issues but did not mention Taiwan. A U.S. fact sheet said each leader intended to attend a summit hosted by the other country -- APEC in China and the G20 in the United States.

Also speaking at the forum, Ming Chu-cheng (明居正), a professor emeritus of political science at National Taiwan University, said the elaborate welcome for Xi should not be mistaken for progress on the countries' underlying disputes.

Ming said the reception served both leaders' political interests: Trump faced U.S. midterm elections, while Xi sought to strengthen his position ahead of China's next Communist Party congress.

"Don't assume reelection is guaranteed for an authoritarian leader," Ming said, referring to Xi's political future.

Ming also challenged the view in some international media coverage that Trump needed Xi more than Xi needed Trump. Given China's economic difficulties and what Ming saw as political pressure on Xi, the Chinese leader might need Trump more, he argued.

Speaking to CNA on the forum's sidelines, institute Vice President Kuo Yu-jen (郭育仁) pointed to two B-1B Lancer bombers that flew over Joint Base Andrews as Xi arrived. Kuo interpreted the flyover as a warning amid Trump's elaborate welcome.

"Trump also intended to put Xi on notice," Kuo said.

B-1 bombers were among the aircraft deployed in the U.S. operation that captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in January.

Looking ahead, Kuo said any further Trump-Xi talks at APEC or the G20 would probably be shorter meetings held on the sidelines.

He also raised the possibility of a meeting involving Russia during APEC, but said that even if one took place, its limited duration would make a substantial outcome unlikely.