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Taiwan would "welcome" an accidental for its person to talk to U.S. President Donald Trump aft helium raised the possibility, a elder Taiwanese diplomat said Monday (May 18, 2026).
Mr. Trump told reporters connected Friday (May 15, 2026) that helium had to talk to the antheral "running Taiwan" — an evident notation to President Lai Ching-te astir arms sales.
Mr. Trump made the remarks to reporters aboard Air Force One connected the mode backmost to Washington aft a acme successful Beijing where Chinese President Xi Jinping had pushed him not to enactment Taiwan.
"I'm going to marque a determination. I'm going to see," Mr. Trump said successful effect to a question astir whether helium would spell up with arms income to Taiwan.
"I person to talk to the idiosyncratic that close present is -you cognize who helium is - that's moving Taiwan."
Taiwan Deputy Foreign Minister Chen Ming-chi said the authorities was seeking confirmation from the United States astir whether Mr. Trump wanted to talk to Mr. Lai.
"We volition usage each channels to recognize what the U.S. broadside is really thinking," Mr. Chen told reporters.
"We would of people precise overmuch invited it," helium said.
"If they are consenting to speech with our President, I deliberation that would beryllium a precise bully accidental and besides a uncommon opportunity."
In 2016, soon aft his archetypal predetermination victory, Mr. Trump accepted a telephone telephone from past Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, angering Beijing.
It was the archetypal telephone betwixt a Taiwanese person and an incoming oregon serving U.S. President since Washington switched designation from Taipei to Beijing successful 1979, and it stunned diplomats, satellite leaders and China watchers.
