U.S. President Donald Trump has announced his intention to resume direct talks with Taiwan, breaking a pause that had been in place since 1979. The White House seeks to address what it calls the Taiwan problem, while Beijing reaffirms its stance of considering the island as an inalienable province. This move adds pressure to already fragile relations between the two powers.
Military technology and semiconductors at the center of the board 🛡️
Taiwan manufactures over 60% of the world's advanced chips, making the island a critical node for the global technology industry. Any change in political status could affect the semiconductor supply for companies like Apple or NVIDIA. The United States, while not officially recognizing Taiwan, maintains a steady flow of weaponry and military advice to deter any unilateral move by China.
The art of negotiation according to Trump: first pressure, then dialogue 🤝
Trump wants to sit down and talk with Taiwan after 45 years of diplomatic silence. Surely his plan includes a FaceTime call, an incendiary tweet, and then a trip to Mar-a-Lago to close the deal. Meanwhile, China watches with the patience of a Shaolin monk, ready to respond with sanctions or some naval exercise that makes semiconductor markets tremble.