"Taiwan Is China’s"... Trump Allies Worry Xi Jinping Could Move to Invade Taiwan Within Five Years

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[Financial News] After Donald Trump’s visit to China, concerns within the White House over the possibility of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan are growing, Axios reported on the 17th (local time). Analysts also say that if China moves on Taiwan within the next five years, the semiconductor supply chain at the heart of the U.S. artificial intelligence industry could suffer a devastating blow.
According to the report, Trump allies see one of the biggest fallout from the latest U.S.-China summit as the increased likelihood that Xi Jinping will move the Taiwan issue into the realm of concrete action.
One Trump ally said, "Xi Jinping is now defining China not simply as an emerging power, but as a country on equal footing with the United States," adding, "He sent the message that 'we are on the same level as the United States, and Taiwan belongs to China.'" The source added, "This visit to China has made it much more likely that the Taiwan issue will be on the table within the next five years."
In particular, concerns are mounting inside the United States over a possible crisis in the semiconductor supply chain. Taiwan is a key hub for the production of the world’s most advanced AI semiconductors, and if China takes military action, Big Tech and the broader AI industry in the United States could face severe supply shocks.
A Trump ally stressed, "The U.S. economy is still far from achieving self-sufficiency in the semiconductor supply chain," adding, "For CEOs and the U.S. economy as a whole, the most urgent issue is ultimately the semiconductor supply chain."
The Taiwan issue was in fact one of the key points of contention at the summit. Xi warned during the meeting that if Taiwan is handled improperly, the United States and China could "clash or even end up in conflict."
Trump, by contrast, took a cautious stance on whether to approve the planned $14 billion arms sale to Taiwan after the summit. He said, "It would be wise for Taiwan to calm down a little," fueling concern among hardliners in Washington, D.C.
Still, some in the business community viewed the China trip more positively. Axios reported that several U.S. corporate CEOs praised Trump for maintaining a tough line on Iran and Venezuela while pressing China to open its market. Some companies are also said to be hoping for expanded business licenses in China.
km@fnnews.com Kim Kyung-min Reporter