Xi softens his Taiwan messaging, setting a potential trap for Trump in Beijing (opens in new tab)

China is now emphasizing its opposition to Taiwanese independence over its goal of “reunification”. Claus Soong says Beijing will read US silence on the issue as a tacit endorsement.Xi Jinping’s recent meeting with Taiwan’s KMT opposition leader Cheng Li-wun signaled a tactical shift in Beijing’s “One China” narrative. The emphasis was no longer solely on “reunification”, but on opposing Taiwanese independence, a framing designed to sound less coercive and more appealing to moderate audiences...