Would a Trump presidency change China's calculations on Taiwan?

Republican candidate's indifference on island is among 'worst kept secrets in Washington'

Then-U.S. President Donald Trump sits behind the Resolute desk in the Oval Office in July 2019. Trump has compared China to the desk and Taiwan to the tip of a Sharpie. © Reuters

KEN MORIYASU and RYOHTAROH SATOH, Nikkei staff writers, and THOMPSON CHAU, Contributing writer

January 30, 2024 06:00 JST

WASHINGTON/TOKYO/TAIPEI -- As former President Donald Trump gains momentum in his bid for a return to the White House, observers are examining how a potential Trump presidency affects Taiwan policy and whether it changes Beijing's calculations, including the time line for China's publicly stated desire for unification.