Xi Warns Trump That Mishandling Taiwan Could Trigger Conflict
Chinese President Xi Jinping warned US President Donald Trump that mismanagement of the Taiwan issue could push relations between Beijing and Washington toward “clashes and even conflicts,” according to Chinese officials following talks held during Trump’s visit to Beijing.
The warning came during a closed-door meeting that lasted more than two hours as part of a high-level summit between the world’s two largest economies. Chinese authorities described Taiwan as the “most important and sensitive issue” in China-US relations.
According to Reuters, Xi stressed that the handling of the Taiwan question would determine whether bilateral ties remain stable or descend into confrontation. The US summary of the talks, however, did not mention Taiwan and instead focused on trade, energy cooperation, and regional tensions in the Middle East.
The summit took place amid broader geopolitical tensions, including disputes over technology exports, the conflict in Iran, and continued US military support for Taiwan through arms sales and strategic cooperation. Beijing considers Taiwan an integral part of China and opposes any foreign involvement in the island’s affairs.
Despite the sharp warning, both leaders publicly adopted a conciliatory tone during the visit. Chinese and American officials said the discussions also covered trade relations, artificial intelligence, and global security issues, while both sides expressed interest in maintaining dialogue between the two powers.
Taiwan remains one of the main flashpoints between China and the United States. Beijing has repeatedly warned against what it describes as separatist tendencies on the island and foreign interference, while Washington continues to maintain unofficial ties and military cooperation with Taipei.
