Xi Jinping Raises Taiwan Concerns As US And China Begin High-Level Summit In Beijing
Xi Jinping warns Taiwan issue could spark US-China conflict.
Chinese President Xi Jinping warned U.S. President Donald Trump that the Taiwan issue could push China and the United States into “conflict” if it is mishandled, as a high-level summit between the two leaders began in Beijing on Thursday. The meeting comes amid ongoing tensions over trade, security, and global influence between the world’s two largest economies.
Trump arrived in China ahead of the talks with a notably positive tone toward his host, describing Xi as a “great leader” and “friend” and expressing optimism that the two countries would have a “fantastic future together.” Xi, however, struck a more cautious stance during the formal welcome at the Great Hall of the People, where he emphasized that the two sides “should be partners and not rivals.”
The Taiwan question emerged as a central point of concern in the opening remarks. Xi said Taiwan was “the most important issue in China-US relations,” and warned that if it is not handled carefully, it could lead to a dangerous escalation between the two powers. China considers Taiwan part of its territory, while the United States maintains official relations with Beijing but is legally bound to provide Taiwan with defensive support.
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Beyond Taiwan, several other sensitive issues are expected to dominate discussions, including trade disputes, tariffs, artificial intelligence competition, and the ongoing tensions linked to Iran. Trump has indicated he plans to raise U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, while also seeking dialogue on Iran, where China remains a major buyer of sanctioned oil. U.S. officials have also suggested encouraging Beijing to play a greater role in regional stability efforts.
The summit has also drawn attention for the presence of senior business leaders in Trump’s delegation, including Nvidia’s Jensen Huang and Tesla’s Elon Musk, who attended the welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People. Both executives reportedly reacted positively to the meetings, with Musk calling the encounter “wonderful” and Huang describing the discussions between the two leaders as “incredible.”
The talks are expected to continue with a state banquet hosted by Xi and a visit by Trump to the historic Temple of Heaven in Beijing. The meeting comes after years of escalating trade tensions, including tariffs and countermeasures that have strained relations, though both sides have recently discussed the possibility of extending a temporary tariff truce reached during an earlier meeting in South Korea.
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