A bipartisan group of US lawmakers is pushing Trump to hold firm on Taiwan during talks with Beijing — a signal of support for Taipei, and a warning against trading it away.

• Members of Congress wrote to Trump asking him to state clearly that the US will not consult China about weapons sales to Taiwan.
• The letter came as Trump prepares to meet Xi Jinping, with lawmakers worried Taiwan could become a bargaining chip in a broader deal.
• They also want China pressed to free two detained US citizens, stop shipping fentanyl ingredients, and stop helping Russia and Iran.
• The letter points to last December's record arms package for Taiwan as proof that stronger defenses deter Chinese aggression.
• Reducing US reliance on Chinese supply chains was named as another demand that should not be dropped for the sake of a deal.

Outlook: Expect Taiwan policy to be closely watched as a test of whether Trump gives ground to Beijing in any trade or security agreement.