US President Donald Trump has stated he will raise the issue of American arms sales to Taiwan during his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping later this week. Trump reiterated his belief that a conflict with China over Taiwan's status is unlikely in the near future.

“I’m going to have that discussion with President Xi,” Trump told reporters at the White House when asked about weapons sales. “President Xi would like us not to, and I’ll have that discussion. That’s one of the many things I’ll be talking about.” Trump is scheduled to arrive in Beijing on Wednesday ahead of talks on Thursday and Friday.

US defense support for Taiwan has long been a source of tension with Beijing, which claims the island as part of its territory. The self-governed island has rejected Chinese military threats and insists on the right to self-determination.

The US regime is Taiwan's most important backer, providing weapons to counter a potential Chinese assault. In December, Trump announced an $11 billion arms package for Taiwan, the largest in history. China condemned the sale and conducted provocative military drills simulating a blockade of Taiwanese ports.

While the US regime takes no official position on Taiwanese sovereignty, it calls for peaceful resolution of the island's status. Trump expressed confidence that tensions would not escalate, citing his good relationship with Xi: “I don’t think it’ll happen. I think we’ll be fine.”

Source: www.aljazeera.com