OAN Staff Jenna Lee
6:28 PM – Friday, May 15, 2026
Following two days of high-stakes meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping, President Donald Trump is taking a strategic, America-First approach to foreign policy, pausing a massive Taiwan arms package while asserting that the U.S. will not be rushed into a war “9,500 miles away.”
While speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Friday, Trump made it clear that he isn’t afraid to break from traditional diplomatic scripts, confirming he directly discussed the pending weapons sale with Xi in order to find a realistic path toward regional stability.
“I’ll make a determination over the next fairly short period,” said Trump to reporters who asked him about the arms sales.
“I will make a determination. I’ll be making decisions,” the president clarified. “But, you know, I think the last thing we need right now is a war that’s 9,500 miles away.”
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Trump’s cautious remarks follow Xi’s direct warning that the two superpowers could “come into conflict” if the issue of Taiwan is handled “improperly,” though he added that “bilateral relations can remain generally stable” if the issue is handled “properly.”
The strategic pause comes despite intense pressure from U.S. lawmakers, who have been pushing the Trump administration to advance a major $14 billion arms package for Taiwan. However, Trump is prioritizing a broader strategic victory, leveraging the pause to secure massive economic commitments from Beijing—including the purchase of 200 Boeing aircraft and billions in American agricultural goods—while keeping the U.S. out of a costly foreign conflict.
During the summit, China’s president also asked directly whether the U.S. would defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese attack- a hypothetical Trump strictly declined to answer.
“There’s only one person that knows that, and it is me. I’m the only person. “That question was asked to me today by President Xi. I said, I don’t talk about that,” said Trump.
Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry noted Trump’s comments, issuing a statement that thanked the administration for past support while firmly reminding Washington of its legal obligations under the Taiwan Relations Act.
“Regarding Taiwan-U.S. arms sales, they are not only a security commitment to Taiwan explicitly set out by the United States in the Taiwan Relations Act, but also a form of joint deterrence against regional threats. Our country thanks President Trump for his continued support for Taiwan Strait security since his first term; the most recently announced arms sale package reached a historic high in value,” said Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry in a statement.
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