TOKYO/TAIPEI – U.S. allies in Asia are growing anxious that President Donald Trump may be tempted to soften Washington’s support for Taiwan in return for an economic win with Beijing as he prepares to host Chinese leader Xi Jinping next week. Concerns that Trump could make concessions on Taiwan have heightened since he described U.S. arms sales to the democratically governed island claimed by China as a “negotiating chip” in May, and as he tries to shore up approval ratings dented by the Iran war. Xi will likely press Trump on Taiwan during their expected summit on Sept. 24, and even a subtle change in U.S. rhetoric could embolden Beijing and risk the region’s fragile peace, according to interviews with government officials, lawmakers and analysts in Taipei, Tokyo and Washington.
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