An analyst suggests Beijing is in a stronger position to discuss Taiwan with Donald Trump during their upcoming meeting compared to his previous term. The focus will be on statements opposing independence.

Beijing is on stronger footing over Taiwan compared with Donald Trump’s first presidential term, according to a leading mainland analyst. Wu Yongping, dean of the Institute for Taiwan Studies at Tsinghua University, said the issue would “definitely” be discussed when Trump meets his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping later this week. He said in an interview that Beijing would welcome any statements opposing independence but he believed the space for independence was narrowing in any case. The two...