Trump’s abrupt change of U.S. policy on Ukraine raises questions about Taiwan support

Trump's shift on Ukraine raises concerns about Taiwan, but experts say China is unlikely to act hastily.

U.S. President Donald Trump’s abrupt reversal of three years of American policy toward Ukraine has raised concerns China might become emboldened to push its territorial claim on Taiwan, though experts say Beijing is most likely in a wait-and-see mode right now to see how the situation in Europe plays out.

In the past two weeks, Mr. Trump has falsely claimed Ukraine “should have never started the war,” said Ukraine “may be Russian someday” and questioned the legitimacy of President Volodmyr Zelenskyy’s Government, while upending the longstanding American position of isolating Russia over its aggression by beginning direct talks with Moscow and voicing positions sounding remarkably like the Kremlin’s own.

Before heading to Washington for talks with Mr. Trump on Monday (February 24, 2025), French President Emmanuel Macron said he would emphasise “you can’t be weak in the face of President Putin.”

“It’s not you, it’s not your trademark, it’s not in your interest,” Mr. Macron said he would tell Mr. Trump. “How can you, then, be credible in the face of China if you’re weak in the face of Putin?”

Like Moscow’s claim Ukraine is rightfully Russian territory, China claims the self-governing island of Taiwan as its own. Chinese President Xi Jinping has not ruled out taking it by force.

Mr. Trump on Friday (February 21, 2025) appeared to walk back his earlier comments inaccurately blaming Ukraine for starting the war, but his administration’s overall abrupt shift in policy on the conflict could cause some in Taiwan to question “whether the United States could pull the rug out from underneath them as well,” said Russell Hsiao, executive director of the Global Taiwan Institute in Washington.

“Still, while Beijing is certainly paying close attention to Mr. Trump’s comments, it is unlikely to act in haste,” he said.