Chinese President Xi Jinping has cautioned U.S. President Donald Trump against mishandling the issue of Taiwan, warning that any wrong approach could trigger serious tensions and even conflict between the world’s two largest economies.
Xi gave the warning during bilateral talks in Beijing on Thursday as Trump continued his official visit to China, according to Chinese state media.
The Chinese leader reportedly told Trump that the Taiwan issue remains the most sensitive and important matter in relations between Beijing and Washington, stressing that poor handling of the matter could place bilateral ties in what he described as a “very dangerous situation.”
Xi reiterated China’s long-standing position that Taiwan is part of Chinese territory and warned that calls for independence on the island were incompatible with peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.
He stressed that proper management of the issue would be critical to maintaining stability between both global powers.
The United States remains a major player in the Taiwan question through continued military and strategic support for the island, including arms sales, a policy Beijing has consistently opposed.
Despite the stern warning, both leaders struck a conciliatory tone at the start of the meeting held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
Following an official welcome ceremony with military honours, Trump described Xi as a “great leader” and expressed optimism about future relations between both countries.
“Sometimes people don’t like me saying it, but I say it anyway because it’s true… It’s an honour to be your friend,” Trump said.
Xi, in response, said he believed the common interests shared by China and the United States outweighed their differences and called for a new framework for cooperation between major global powers.
The Chinese president also referenced the “Thucydides Trap,” a concept describing the dangers of rivalry between an emerging power and an established global leader.
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Trade is expected to dominate much of the discussions, following months of tariff tensions between Washington and Beijing.
Trump had previously threatened steep tariffs on Chinese imports, although both leaders agreed last October to pause the trade dispute during talks ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.
Chinese state media reported that Xi later met with leading American business executives who accompanied Trump to Beijing, including Tim Cook, Elon Musk, and Jensen Huang.
During that meeting, Xi reportedly reaffirmed China’s commitment to deeper economic cooperation with the United States and pledged that China’s market would continue opening to global investors.
Regional security issues, including tensions involving Iran and the strategic Strait of Hormuz, are also expected to feature in the ongoing discussions before Trump departs China on Friday.
