️🇨🇳🇺🇸🇹🇼 NYT: China's Xi Jinping is pressuring US President Donald Trump to continue delaying a $14 billion package of missiles, anti-drone systems and air defense equipment to Taiwan, ahead of Xi's visit to Washington this week.

Trump has held off approving the sale since his summit with Xi in Beijing in May, where he described it as "a very good bargaining chip for us, frankly."

"There is only one issue that could cause the relationship between the two sides to completely break down or erupt into conflict, and that is Taiwan," said Shin Chiang, director of the Taiwan Studies Center at Fudan University.