The recent summit between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing sparked concerns within the White House. Although Trump has publicly insisted that the meeting represented progress in the bilateral relationship and showed photographs with Xi on his Truth Social network, people close to the president privately acknowledged that the meeting left disturbing signals about Beijing's intentions regarding the autonomous island.

Advisors to the Republican president consider that the risk of a possible military offensive by China against Taiwan during the next five years has increased. According to reports revealed by the media Axios, the president's collaborators warn that Xi Jinping took advantage of the meeting to consolidate an aggressive stance. Beijing's strategy is clear: stop presenting itself as an emerging power to demand equal treatment before the United States, under the strict premise that Taiwan belongs to it.

"Xi is trying to bring China to a new position where he says: 'We are not an emerging power. We are your equals. And Taiwan is mine,'" said one of the advisers consulted by Axios.

The situation is especially worrying due to the military and economic implications that a conflict in the Taiwan Strait would have, one of the most sensitive areas on the world geopolitical scene.

Taiwan dominated private talks in Beijing

The future of Taiwan became one of the central topics during talks between Trump and Xi. According to sources close to the meeting, the Chinese government warned that any change in US policy towards the island could provoke direct confrontations between both powers.

After returning from Asia, Trump tried to tone down tensions in an interview with Fox News, where he assured that he is not seeking to promote the formal independence of Taiwan or start a war with China.

"I'm not looking for anyone to become independent. Are we supposed to travel 9,500 miles to fight a war? I'm not looking for that," the president declared.

The president also stated that as long as he remains in the White House, Xi would avoid acting militarily against the island, although he acknowledged doubts about what could happen after his term.

"With me, I don't think they'll do anything while I'm here. When I'm not here, I think they could," Trump said.

The remarks sparked concern in Taipei, especially after Trump suggested that a US arms package for Taiwan could become a negotiating tool with Beijing.

Fear of global impact on the technology industry

In addition to the military risk, Trump's advisors warned about the possible economic impact of a conflict in Taiwan, the world's leading producer of advanced semiconductors used in artificial intelligence, mobile phones, automobiles and defense systems.

U.S. officials admit that the country's technology industry still relies heavily on chips made in Taiwan and that the United States does not yet have enough capacity to replace that production in the event of a crisis.

“There is no way we can be financially prepared; the chip supply chain will not be anywhere close to being self-sufficient,” warned one of the advisors cited in the report.

For his part, Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Washington's official policy towards Taiwan has not changed after the meeting with Xi.

Meanwhile, Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te assured that the island “will not be sacrificed or exchanged” and reiterated that Taiwan will maintain its sovereignty and its democratic system in the face of pressure from Beijing.