Former National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien, who served during Donald Trump’s first term, recently had a lunch meeting with Taiwan’s representative to the US, Alexander Yui, and Republican former Rep. Chris Stewart in Salt Lake City. The meeting, which took place on Thursday, was confirmed by a reliable source familiar with the matter.
The gathering comes at a time when diplomats in Washington are actively seeking meetings with former Trump administration officials. These diplomats aim to convey messages from their country’s leaders, gain insights on how to engage with Trump, and better understand potential future policies under Trump’s leadership.
Taiwan is particularly interested in understanding the policies that Trump may pursue, given his previous statements during the campaign. Trump had mentioned that Taiwan should increase its payments to the US for defense support and had also discussed imposing tariffs on semiconductor chips from Taiwan in a potential second term.
Recent interactions have indicated that some Republicans have advised Taiwan to moderate their vocal support for Ukraine and focus on strengthening ties with the US, especially if Trump were to return to the White House. This strategic shift aims to secure enhanced support from the US and foster a closer relationship with Trump.
While O’Brien declined to provide comments on the lunch meeting, sources close to Trump suggest that in a potential second term, Trump could shift US foreign policy focus towards the Asia-Pacific region and intensify competition with China.
The specifics of Trump’s Taiwan policy are currently uncertain. However, ongoing communications between Taiwanese officials and individuals connected to Trump are expected to play a crucial role in shaping this policy as it evolves.
