Trump advisers warn him of timeline for possible China move on Taiwan
Taiwan's army (Photo: Getty Images)
Advisers to US President Donald Trump believe that China could launch an attack on Taiwan within five years. Such a move would disrupt chip supplies and deal a major blow to the US economy and the development of artificial intelligence, according to the news agency UPI.
According to the advisers, these conclusions were drawn after the May summit in Beijing on May 14–15. They say Beijing no longer sees itself as a country catching up with others, but instead views itself as an equal to the US.
One of Trump’s allies directly quoted China’s position as follows:
“One thing Xi was signaling is that China no longer sees itself as a rising power, but as an equal to the United States. And he is trying to say Taiwan belongs to China.”
Analysts believe the Taiwan issue is not just a territorial dispute — it is a struggle over future global leadership.
Why the US is not ready for a crisis
The reason lies in the US's significant vulnerability in computer technologies. Semiconductor supply chains are heavily dependent on Taiwan, and if the island were blocked, the US economy would effectively stall, since building domestic factories takes years.
A Trump adviser describes the situation bluntly:
“There is no realistic way for us to become self-sufficient anytime soon. For CEOs and the broader economy, the most urgent issue is the semiconductor supply chain.”
The US is critically dependent on TSMC. It produces the most advanced chips used everywhere — from smartphones to artificial intelligence systems. Without these components, the AI sector would simply collapse.
Main threats to the global market
A military move by China would trigger a chain reaction. Analysts identify several critical pressure points:
- A complete shutdown of advanced semiconductor production.
- A collapse of US stock markets driven by losses in major tech companies.
- A crisis in artificial intelligence and defense-related development.
- Disruption of global logistics routes.
Within political circles close to Donald Trump, Taiwan is considered the biggest strategic risk. The Beijing summit did not bring stability; instead, it highlighted the scale of the potential danger, according to the report.
What else to know about Taiwan–China relations
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Washington’s policy on Taiwan remains unchanged, despite Beijing’s strong warnings about the risk of direct military confrontation between the two sides.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump, after talks in Beijing, warned Taiwan against formally declaring independence. He emphasized that he does not support such a move and aims to avoid further escalation in relations with China.
In response to these statements, Taiwan has urged the US not to halt arms deliveries. Authorities on the island are seriously concerned about a possible review of US defense support.
