Taiwan is lining up a 20-year deal to buy Alaskan natural gas, which helps Taiwan's energy security and gives it a bargaining chip with Washington.

• Trump said Taiwan has agreed to take 30% of the gas from the Alaska pipeline project over the next 20 years.
• He also said Taiwan will put an extra $4.4 billion into the project to make sure it gets built.
• Taiwan's state oil company CPC signed a purchase and investment agreement with the Alaska pipeline developer last year.
• Premier Cho Jung-tai did not confirm the numbers, pointing instead to the government's push to keep oil, gas and power supplies stable.
• Taiwan has no energy of its own to speak of, so big US gas purchases double as goodwill toward Trump.

Outlook: Expect more pressure for Taiwan to firm up the purchase and the investment as the pipeline hunts for buyers.