It isn’t clear how Trump responded to Xi’s request. Since coming to power in 2012, Xi has made bringing Taiwan under China's control a key goal and vowed to achieve it someday, by force if necessary. Key points and original sources are listed below.

• It isn’t clear how Trump responded to Xi’s request. The U.S. president has already delayed a planned US$14 billion arms package for Taiwan for monthsS1

• Since coming to power in 2012, Xi has made bringing Taiwan under China's control a key goal and vowed to achieve it someday, by force if necessary.S2