Xi Hosts Putin as Taiwan Hits Back at China's Warning to Trump | Taiwan Talks EP835

As Russian President Vladimir Putin flies to Beijing days after US President Donald Trump’s departure, we expose an aggressive Chinese plot to freeze a US$14 billion arms package to Taiwan. “China is the Intruder” says Taiwan’s US representative Alexander Yui. With China and Russia deepening coordination and promoting a “multipolar world” designed to challenge US influence, uncertainty is growing over Trump’s willingness to approve a major arms package for Taiwan. Could support for Taipei become a bargaining chip in US–China negotiations — and what message would that send to America’s allies? In this episode, we examine the strategic implications of the Putin–Xi meeting, Trump’s shifting approach to Taiwan and the growing rivalry between the emerging China-Russia-Iran-North Korea (CRINK) bloc and the US-led alliance network.

*Recorded on May 19, 2026 at 11:30am Taiwan Standard Time

Host/Senior Producer: Yin Khvat
Consultant: Max Yu
Research Assistant: Ryan Pham

Our guests:

Ming Chu-cheng
- National Taiwan University Political Science Department Professor Emeritus
Tony Hu
- Former US Department of Defense Senior Director for China, Taiwan and Mongolia

Chapters:
00:00:00 – Putin Visits Beijing
00:02:46 – What Message Does Putin’s Trip Send?
00:07:14 – Xi: US-Led Order Facing ‘Great Changes’
00:14:37 – Trump Weighs Approval of Taiwan’s Arms




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