BEIJING DAILY - 28 FEBRUARY 2026
Trump Delays Taiwan Arms Sale as Beijing Summit Approaches; Former U.S. Air Force Officer Charged with Training Chinese Military Pilots
Trump Delays Taiwan Arms Sale as Beijing Summit Approaches
The Trump administration is stalling a multi-billion dollar arms package to Taiwan that has already been approved by Congress, according to the New York Times. The delay appears timed to ensure the success of President Trump's planned April visit to Beijing. This represents a significant policy shift that could signal U.S. willingness to make concessions on Taiwan issues to advance broader U.S.-China relations.
Former U.S. Air Force Officer Charged with Training Chinese Military Pilots
The Justice Department arrested a former U.S. Air Force officer for allegedly traveling to China to train pilots of the People's Liberation Army Air Force without State Department approval. This case underscores ongoing concerns about technology transfer and military expertise flowing to the PLA through unauthorized channels.
Chinese AI Chip Firms Post Major Revenue Gains Amid Export Controls
Cambricon reported its first full-year profit since listing in 2020, while Moore Threads saw revenue jump 243% year-over-year. Separately, Moore Threads announced full compatibility between its flagship AI chip and Alibaba's Qwen3.5 models. These results demonstrate accelerating progress in China's AI chip self-sufficiency efforts despite U.S. export restrictions.
China Actively Mediates Pakistan-Afghanistan Border Conflict
Following deadly cross-border clashes and Pakistani airstrikes on Kabul, China's Foreign Ministry expressed deep concern and is actively mediating between Islamabad and Kabul. Beijing explicitly requested both countries ensure the safety of Chinese personnel and Belt and Road projects. China called the conflict intensity unprecedented and warned continued escalation would harm both sides. **BEIJING DAILY - 28 FEBRUARY 2026: Trump Delays Taiwan Arms Sale Ahead of Beijing Summit; PRC Escalates South China Sea Rhetoric While Maintaining Measured Two Sessions Posture; AI Chip Firms Continue Revenue Surge**
DRIVING THE DAY
SUMMARY: The Trump administration is stalling a multi-billion-dollar Taiwan arms package already approved by Congress, with the delay timed to ensure success of President Trump's planned April visit to Beijing—a significant shift signaling potential U.S. willingness to make Taiwan security concessions to advance bilateral engagement. The move directly undermines Taiwan Relations Act commitments and could embolden Beijing's coercive cross-strait posture. Separately, the PLA Ministry of Defense deployed unusually sharp rhetoric on 27-28 February accusing the United States and allies of "showing off military force" in the South China Sea—escalatory language following joint U.S.-Philippines-Japan-Australia patrols near Huangyan Island. Beijing maintained urgent mediation efforts on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border crisis while state media continued notably restrained domestic-focused messaging ahead of the 3 March National People's Congress opening. Chinese AI chip manufacturers posted major revenue gains with Cambricon achieving first full-year profit since its 2020 listing and Moore Threads reporting 243% year-over-year revenue growth, demonstrating accelerating indigenous capability despite export controls. END SUMMARY.
