Story summary
US President Donald Trump met with Chinese President Xi Jinping, where Xi pressed Trump to adopt Beijing's stance against Taiwan independence, which Taiwan rejected outright. Meanwhile, Taiwan is crucial for global tech and economy due to its leading semiconductor production; TSMC alone produces the majority of advanced chips that power smartphones, AI systems, and more. As Stanford Hoover fellow Eyck Freymann noted, economic disruption from a conflict over Taiwan would be severe.
In unrelated developments, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian met with US media at the UN General Assembly, where he denied Iran's nuclear ambitions while offering to dilute its enriched uranium and allow inspections under international law. He also blamed Washington for ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) estimates that Iran has over 440 kilograms of uranium enriched up to 60%, raising concerns despite Pezeshkian's denials.
Taiwan's representative, Ambassador Alexander Yui, clarified during an interview on CBS’s "Face the Nation" that while Taiwan was discussed between Trump and Xi, it wasn't a major focus. He emphasized there has been no change in US policy towards Taiwan amid recent tensions with China.
Written for “Taiwan Iran Us Relations Midterms” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 386 other(s) covering the same event.
- Published
US President Donald Trump returned to the stage at the United Nations on Tuesday, where he touted his administration's policies in front of world leaders and issued pointed threats to some of those gathered in the room.
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he → publish → room
The lengthy speech was wide-ranging, covering the war in Iran, AI, Cuba and the role of America's military.
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speech → range → military
The BBC's correspondents who covered the address have picked five key moments that stood out.
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that → cover → moments
Trump pushes message of American power
By Sarah Smith, North America editor in the room
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Trump → push → room
The US president has no great respect for the United Nations – he accused it of imposing a far-left agenda – but he does relish the global platform it gives him.
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it → have → him
He used Tuesday's speech to tout his achievements, and claim the mantle of a peacemaker, at the same time as he issued a number of pointed threats.
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he → use → threats
Iran might be annihilated, lethal strikes on small boats suspected of drug smuggling will continue and the Cuban regime may even be toppled.
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regime → annihilate → smuggling
The clear message was: America is still prepared to use its military might wherever Trump thinks it might be required to secure its national interests.
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it → use → interests
Trump said he was "reasserting American power" and flexed what he called the country's "unmatched military might".
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he → say → what
"The United States will no longer permit threats to America to gain a foothold anywhere in the Western Hemisphere," he said.
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he → permit → Hemisphere
Once again, Trump has made the full-throated assertion to the world of "America First".
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Trump → make → First
Cubans walk out as Trump calls nation 'failed state'
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Trump → walk → nation
Trump took aim at one of the US's closest neighbours, Cuba, calling it "an absolutely failed state" and saying his administration has been pursuing "a fundamental change in the situation in Cuba".
"It will fall," he said.
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he → take → Cuba
The Cuban delegation walked out of the hall as Trump continued his remarks.
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Trump → walk → remarks
Over the last year, the US president become more vocal in criticising Cuba's communist government.
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president → become → government
On Tuesday, he said it was under "enormous pressure" and "failing like never before".
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it → say → pressure
The US has not, however, provided a detailed picture of what it believes change will look like in Cuba.
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change → provide → Cuba
Cuba's foreign minister reacted angrily to Trump's comments and accused the US president of spreading "falsehoods".
"The US government is incapable of accepting that Cuba is and has the right to be a full sovereign and independent country," Bruno Rodriguez wrote on X.
3.
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Rodriguez → react → 3
Trump presented Iran with a stark choice at the UN General Assembly: reach an agreement with Washington and rebuild the country, or face the rapid "annihilation" of the Islamic Republic.
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Trump → present → Republic
He then again predicted that a deal to end the war would probably follow the US midterm elections in November.
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deal → predict → November
His remarks illustrated Trump's familiar strategy of coercive diplomacy - keeping negotiations open while also threatening overwhelming force.
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remarks → illustrate → force
But his language blurred the distinction between destroying the political system and threatening Iran itself.
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language → blur → Iran
International law experts have previously expressed concern at what they called "alarming rhetoric" used by US officials, including Trump himself, who has posted that the US might "obliterate" Iran's power plants.
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US → express → plants
References on Tuesday to leaving "no chance of survival" and "no hope" for future generations will likely have stoked similar alarm.
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References → leave → alarm
Yet the speech was not a declaration that diplomacy has failed.
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diplomacy → fail → ?
It was an attempt to define the terms of possible negotiations: the US remains prepared to make a deal, but only under the shadow of an existential threat.
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US → define → threat
Trump hails new Greenland security deal
By Bernd Debusmann Jr, White House reporter in the room
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Trump → hail → room
Trump also praised a new deal with Greenland under which he said the US would build two military bases in the Arctic territory.
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US → praise → territory
"We will have the complete ability to do what is necessary to defend the American continent and also Europe," he said of the deal, which he first announced on Friday.
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he → have → Friday
He added that it "very much enhances" the defence alliance Nato.
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it → add → alliance
The US, Denmark and Greenland held a joint signing ceremony at the UN shortly after Trump's address.
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US → hold → address
Although Greenland is a semi-autonomous territory, it is part of the Kingdom of Denmark which primarily handles its foreign policy.
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which → handle → policy
Trump administration officials are already hailing the agreement as enhancing US security at minimal cost - and with relationships intact.
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relationships → hail → cost
Denmark and Greenland's governments, however, will be hoping it ends the long-simmering disagreement that began when Trump threatened to take Greenland by force.
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Trump → hop → force
That threat shook the Nato alliance and sorely tested the US-Danish relationship.
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threat → shake → relationship
Few clear details about the nature of the deal have been confirmed publicly, and given Trump had tried for months to purchase or annex the semi-autonomous territory, some analysts are viewing it as a quiet win for diplomacy.
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analysts → confirm → diplomacy
Trump has a penchant for branding, and in his speech he gave Artificial Intelligence a new name: Super Intelligence.
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he → have → name
"The use of the word artificial makes it sound fake," he said.
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he → make → word
But we have to be careful.
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we → have → ?
"
"Welcome to the new world of Super Intelligence - SI," he added.
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he → welcome → Intelligence
…and 2 more, not listed.
The Aporia
