Xi is expected to press Trump at this week's summit in Washington to halt US arms sales to Taiwan, citing the 1982 US-China joint communique.

Xi is expected to press Trump at this week's summit in Washington to halt US arms sales to Taiwan, citing the 1982 US-China joint communique.

Beijing is also pushing Washington to stop arms shipments already ordered by Taiwan. One source said Xi may claim that "Taiwan is the provocateur and the only source of instability in US-China relations."

The US said in 1982 that it intended to gradually reduce arms sales, but Ronald Reagan separately made this commitment "contingently conditional on China's continued commitment to the peaceful resolution" of differences with Taiwan.

Trump has yet to approve a new $14 billion Taiwan arms package, which he previously described as a "very good bargaining chip."

Source: Reuters