U.S., China Prepare Talks Amid Taiwan, Trade Tensions

President Donald Trump told reporters he doubts China wants to invade Taiwan and said he expects to get along with Xi Jinping, while stopping short of explicitly committing U.S. military intervention ahead of a planned meeting with Xi. A Taiwanese poll found waning confidence in U.S. deterrence, with 44.8% saying Trump would not be willing to prevent an invasion. At the White House, Trump endorsed AUKUS and pledged to sell nuclear‑powered submarines to Australia after a dangerous Chinese intercept of an RAAF P‑8 over the South China Sea. On trade, Trump listed rare earths, fentanyl precursors and soybean purchases as top demands and threatened steep tariffs, including a possible 100% levy. U.S. and Chinese officials are preparing talks this week to manage a fragile trade truce that analysts say has been advanced by tariff leverage but could lapse in November.