Iran war strengthens the US’ hand, academics sayStaff writer, with CNATaiwanese academics yesterday said that US military actions in Venezuela and Iran have strengthened Washington’s hand ahead of US President Donald Trump’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平), but their interpretations on the implications for Taiwan differed. Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, and US President Donald Trump attend a welcoming ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Nov. 9, 2017. “The implication is very clear: The Iran war can in effect be seen as a form of US pressure on China,” Fu said. The two academics had slightly different views on how the edge they felt the US had going into the Trump-Xi meeting would affect Taiwan. However, the US position on cross-strait relations remains “very clear” in opposing any “unilateral change of the status quo,” he added.

Source: Taipei Times March 09, 2026 17:16 UTC