China is reportedly delaying a proposed visit by senior Pentagon official Elbridge Colby as Beijing increases pressure on Donald Trump over a pending $14 billion U.S. weapons package for Taiwan.
According to a report by the Financial Times, Colby, the Pentagon’s under-secretary of defence for policy, had discussed a possible summer visit to Beijing with Chinese officials. However, China has reportedly signalled that it is unwilling to approve the trip until Trump makes a final decision on the arms package for Taiwan.
Reuters said it could not independently verify the report. Neither the Pentagon nor China’s foreign ministry immediately commented.
Taiwan Arms Package Becomes Flashpoint
The issue comes just days after Trump’s high-profile visit to Beijing, where Taiwan remained one of the most sensitive topics in talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Following the summit, Trump said he had not yet decided whether to proceed with the major weapons sale to Taiwan, creating fresh uncertainty around Washington’s support for the island.
Under U.S. law, Washington is required to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself. Both Republican and Democratic lawmakers have urged the Trump administration to continue approving arms sales to Taipei.
Taiwan’s Defence Minister Wellington Koo said earlier this week that he remained “cautiously optimistic” about future U.S. weapons deliveries.
Trump Signals Possible Call With Taiwan Leader
Tensions could rise further after Trump revealed on Wednesday that he intended to speak with Taiwan President Lai Ching-te.
Such a conversation would be highly unusual for a sitting U.S. president and could sharply escalate tensions with Beijing, which considers Taiwan part of its territory.
A person familiar with the matter told Reuters that no call between Trump and Lai had yet been scheduled.
China has repeatedly warned Washington against official engagement with Taiwan and strongly opposes U.S. military support for the island.
Beijing Balances Pressure And Diplomacy
The reported delay over Colby’s visit reflects Beijing’s broader attempt to use diplomacy and access as leverage during a period of delicate U.S.-China relations.
Trump has repeatedly described his relationship with Xi as “amazing”, while simultaneously maintaining pressure on China through trade, technology and security policies.
U.S. officials have also pointed out that Trump has approved more weapons sales to Taiwan than any previous American president.
The developments underline how Taiwan continues to sit at the centre of strategic tensions between Washington and Beijing, even as both sides publicly stress the importance of maintaining “stable” relation
(with inputs from Reuters)
