On May 5, U.S. President Trump held a phone call with China's President Xi Jinping, focusing on rare earth exports and the Taiwan issue. Former legislator Tsai Cheng-yuan stated in a media program that this conversation serves as a warning for Taiwan, suggesting that Trump might be trading Taiwan's concerns for the lifting of China's rare earth restrictions.

Tsai pointed out that the content of the call was likely more extensive than what was released, indicating that important topics of discussion have not been disclosed. He emphasized that issues such as the Russia-Ukraine war or Middle Eastern tensions were absent, with both parties prioritizing their domestic concerns. Xi is particularly focused on the Taiwan issue, while Trump is concerned primarily with rare earths, indicating that Xi is not significantly worried about U.S. tariffs.

Tsai warned that should China restrict rare earth exports, it could severely impact the U.S. automotive industry within a short timeframe. Additionally, he mentioned that China has developed greater self-sufficiency in technology and is less dependent on U.S. restrictions than in the past.

Furthermore, he analyzed that the discourse between the U.S. and China could pose greater threats to Taiwan, with military think tanks suggesting that the U.S. is at a disadvantage in potential conflicts. Tsai noted that if Taiwan continues to rely solely on military power, it will struggle to confront such challenges and must consider alternative effective strategies.