For anxious Taiwan, Trump’s silence after Xi meeting is best possible outcome

Island breathes sigh of relief as fears recede that US could jettison longstanding support

• Trump China visit live – latest updates

Before this week’s summit between the Chinese and US presidents, Taiwan had been cast as the anxious bystander.

Observers suggested that Taipei feared the unpredictable and transactional Donald Trump might overturn Washington’s longstanding support for the island democracy, which Beijing claims as a breakaway province, during Thursday and Friday’s talks.