Beijing has sought a pause in new US arms sales to Taiwan ahead of Chinese President 
Xi Jinping's visit to the United States next week, where he is expected to meet President 
Donald Trump. The sales may now be pushed back to November or December, Liberty Times reported, citing sources quoted by Hong Kong's South China Morning Post.
What did the House China committee chair ask for? In an open letter on Friday, John Moolenaar, the Republican chair of the House select committee on the Chinese Communist Party, urged Trump to take a hard line when he meets Xi on Sept. 24, CNA reported. He said Washington should reject outright any Chinese objection to arms sales to Taiwan or to US security cooperation with Asian allies. The letter reflects concern among China hawks in Washington that Trump could concede too much at a summit meant to stabilise relations, and that US support for Taiwan could be weakened, CNA reported, citing Reuters.
What else has Beijing sought? Trump has said that during his May visit to Beijing, Xi pressed him on arms sales to Taiwan, and he later called the latest US$14 billion package, still awaiting approval, a good bargaining chip. Sources familiar with China's thinking said Beijing also wants Trump to declare publicly that the United States "opposes" Taiwan independence, rather than saying only that it does "not support" it, the formulation Washington has used for decades.
What does the letter say about Iran? Moolenaar said Trump should raise reports that Chinese entities helped Iran target US forces, attacks that killed American personnel, and call such help a major escalation. He said Trump should make clear to the Chinese Communist Party that aiding US adversaries such as Iran amounts to waging war on the United States and would bring the most severe consequences. Iran obtained satellite imagery of a US base in Jordan through Chinese entities before a July attack that killed three US troops, CNA reported, citing a Wall Street Journal account based on unnamed US officials. Trump played down that report on Sept. 13, saying both countries spy on each other.
What else is in the letter? Moolenaar also called for tighter controls to keep China from obtaining US AI technology and US and allied chipmaking technology. He said China remains America's foremost foreign adversary and greatest external threat, and urged continued pressure on Beijing to free detained US citizens, calling their detention hostage diplomacy.
Figures referenced: Xi Jinping, Donald Trump. — JudgeMarket.
