Xi warns Trump of possible conflict over Taiwan at grand Beijing summit
Chinese President Xi Jinping warned Thursday of “clashes and even conflicts” with the United States over Taiwan, cautioning President Donald Trump that tensions over the Beijing-claimed island could jeopardize ties between the world’s two biggest economies.
The stark warning was delivered as the two leaders met for high-stakes talks in Beijing at the start of their two-day summit. It contrasted with the public praise offered by both men as they arrived for a grand welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in the Chinese capital.
The rival superpowers entered the summit divided over thorny issues including Taiwan, trade disputes and the Iran war, though both Washington and Beijing have sought to prioritize stability in relations after a turbulent start to Trump’s second term.
Differences in the two countries’ tone at the summit — as well as differing versions of what Trump and Xi discussed — reflected the likely difficulties in bridging those gaps.
One persistent source of tension is Taiwan, which Xi stressed to Trump is the most important issue in U.S.-China relations, according to a Chinese readout of the meeting.
If the issue is handled properly, the relationship can remain “generally stable,” said the readout from China’s foreign ministry spokesperson.
“Otherwise, the two countries will have clashes and even conflicts, putting the entire relationship in great jeopardy,” Xi is said to have told Trump.
Taiwan was widely expected to be a top agenda item during the two-day state visit by Trump, the first by a U.S. president since he last went to China during his first term in 2017.
Citing past comments by Trump, U.S. lawmakers and others had raised concerns that he could make concessions to Xi on Taiwan, a self-ruling democracy that Beijing has vowed to control by force if necessary. Trump administration officials have said repeatedly that U.S. policy on Taiwan is not expected to change.
There was no mention of Taiwan in the American readout of Trump’s bilateral meeting with Xi, which the U.S. described as a “good meeting” focused on enhancing economic cooperation. Both leaders had sought to extend a fragile trade truce reached last October when they met in South Korea.
Instead, the U.S. description focused heavily on the war with Iran, which has loomed large over the summit and caused it to be postponed by six weeks. China has close ties with Iran, and Trump had been expected to seek greater assistance from Xi in bringing an end to the conflict.
But Trump “didn’t ask him for anything,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio told NBC News after the talks.
“We’re not asking for China’s help. We don’t need their help,” he said.
NBC
Chinese President Xi Jinping warned Thursday of “clashes and even conflicts” with the United States over Taiwan, cautioning President Donald Trump that tensions over the Beijing-claimed island could jeopardize ties between the world’s two biggest economies.
The stark warning was delivered as the two leaders met for high-stakes talks in Beijing at the start of their two-day summit. It contrasted with the public praise offered by both men as they arrived for a grand welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in the Chinese capital.
The rival superpowers entered the summit divided over thorny issues including Taiwan, trade disputes and the Iran war, though both Washington and Beijing have sought to prioritize stability in relations after a turbulent start to Trump’s second term.
Differences in the two countries’ tone at the summit — as well as differing versions of what Trump and Xi discussed — reflected the likely difficulties in bridging those gaps.
One persistent source of tension is Taiwan, which Xi stressed to Trump is the most important issue in U.S.-China relations, according to a Chinese readout of the meeting.
If the issue is handled properly, the relationship can remain “generally stable,” said the readout from China’s foreign ministry spokesperson.
“Otherwise, the two countries will have clashes and even conflicts, putting the entire relationship in great jeopardy,” Xi is said to have told Trump.
Taiwan was widely expected to be a top agenda item during the two-day state visit by Trump, the first by a U.S. president since he last went to China during his first term in 2017.
Citing past comments by Trump, U.S. lawmakers and others had raised concerns that he could make concessions to Xi on Taiwan, a self-ruling democracy that Beijing has vowed to control by force if necessary. Trump administration officials have said repeatedly that U.S. policy on Taiwan is not expected to change.
There was no mention of Taiwan in the American readout of Trump’s bilateral meeting with Xi, which the U.S. described as a “good meeting” focused on enhancing economic cooperation. Both leaders had sought to extend a fragile trade truce reached last October when they met in South Korea.
Instead, the U.S. description focused heavily on the war with Iran, which has loomed large over the summit and caused it to be postponed by six weeks. China has close ties with Iran, and Trump had been expected to seek greater assistance from Xi in bringing an end to the conflict.
But Trump “didn’t ask him for anything,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio told NBC News after the talks.
“We’re not asking for China’s help. We don’t need their help,” he said.
NBC
Chinese President Xi Jinping warned Thursday of “clashes and even conflicts” with the United States over Taiwan, cautioning President Donald Trump that tensions over the Beijing-claimed island could jeopardize ties between the world’s two biggest economies.
The stark warning was delivered as the two leaders met for high-stakes talks in Beijing at the start of their two-day summit. It contrasted with the public praise offered by both men as they arrived for a grand welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in the Chinese capital.
The rival superpowers entered the summit divided over thorny issues including Taiwan, trade disputes and the Iran war, though both Washington and Beijing have sought to prioritize stability in relations after a turbulent start to Trump’s second term.
Differences in the two countries’ tone at the summit — as well as differing versions of what Trump and Xi discussed — reflected the likely difficulties in bridging those gaps.
One persistent source of tension is Taiwan, which Xi stressed to Trump is the most important issue in U.S.-China relations, according to a Chinese readout of the meeting.
If the issue is handled properly, the relationship can remain “generally stable,” said the readout from China’s foreign ministry spokesperson.
“Otherwise, the two countries will have clashes and even conflicts, putting the entire relationship in great jeopardy,” Xi is said to have told Trump.
Taiwan was widely expected to be a top agenda item during the two-day state visit by Trump, the first by a U.S. president since he last went to China during his first term in 2017.
Citing past comments by Trump, U.S. lawmakers and others had raised concerns that he could make concessions to Xi on Taiwan, a self-ruling democracy that Beijing has vowed to control by force if necessary. Trump administration officials have said repeatedly that U.S. policy on Taiwan is not expected to change.
There was no mention of Taiwan in the American readout of Trump’s bilateral meeting with Xi, which the U.S. described as a “good meeting” focused on enhancing economic cooperation. Both leaders had sought to extend a fragile trade truce reached last October when they met in South Korea.
Instead, the U.S. description focused heavily on the war with Iran, which has loomed large over the summit and caused it to be postponed by six weeks. China has close ties with Iran, and Trump had been expected to seek greater assistance from Xi in bringing an end to the conflict.
But Trump “didn’t ask him for anything,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio told NBC News after the talks.
“We’re not asking for China’s help. We don’t need their help,” he said.
NBC
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Xi warns Trump of possible conflict over Taiwan at grand Beijing summit
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