Xi warns Trump over Taiwan, says differences could lead to clash : NPR

President Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping met at a summit in Beijing on Thursday, where the Chinese leader warned that differences over Taiwan could lead to conflict between the world’s two largest economies.

As he left for the trip, Trump was welcomed with a ceremony that included an honor guard as well as a crowd of children waving Chinese and American flags.

“The relationship between China and the United States is going to be better than ever,” Trump said in his opening remarks at the Great Hall of the People.

Xi said his country is committed to building ‘ties of strategic stability’ with the US

Taiwan “the most important issue” for Xi

At the summit, Xi focused on Taiwan, a major point of tension between the US and China, calling it the “most important issue” between the two countries.

Taiwan is a self-ruled island that Beijing claims as its own and has refused to take by force. Taiwan is a democracy but under pressure from Beijing, very few countries recognize it as independent.

Beijing has never abandoned the use of force to unify Taiwan with the Chinese mainland.

America’s relationship with Taiwan has long been viewed with anger in Beijing. Washington continues to sell arms to Taiwan, but has long pursued a policy of strategic ambiguity over whether it would come to Taiwan’s defense militarily. In December, the State Department approved a record $11 billion in arms sales to the island, but the package has not yet been delivered.

Xi warned the US, “It should be extra careful in handling the Taiwan issue.”

“If this is handled properly, it will bring overall stability to bilateral relations,” Xi told Trump. “Otherwise, there will be skirmishes and even conflicts between the two countries, which will put the entire relationship in great danger.”

“‘Taiwan independence’ and cross-Strait peace are incompatible like fire

And water,” Xi said, “safeguarding peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is the biggest common factor between China and the United States.”

Bilateral trade was also prominently discussed in the meeting

Analysts suggest Trump’s visit this week is unlikely to lead to major policy changes but instead focus on building trust between the two countries. It came after months of trade tensions between the economic rivals and amid rising geopolitical tensions, including the war in Iran.

Trump and Xi last met in October 2025 on the sidelines of the APEC summit in South Korea, which ended the long-running trade war. Since then, the US and China have been engaged in what analysts call a trade truce.

“Really the top goal is to maintain the relative stability that they were able to achieve in South Korea last year,” said William Yang, a Northeast Asia analyst at the International Crisis Group, a Belgium-based think tank.

Xi called for cooperation from both sides.

“The common interests between China and the United States far outweigh their differences,” he said. “Cooperation benefits both parties, while conflict hurts both parties.”

Before the ceasefire, trade tensions pushed US tariffs on Chinese goods to triple digits, while Beijing curbed exports of rare earth minerals, which play a key role in making mobile phones, laptops and many weapons systems.

“The Chinese leadership prefers a stable and productive relationship with the United States so it can focus on its domestic modernization (and) the many economic challenges it faces at home,” said Jessica Chen Weiss, a professor of China studies at Johns Hopkins University.

Trump and Xi’s meeting at the Great Hall of the People was followed by a visit to Beijing’s Temple of Heaven, where the Chinese emperor once frequented and prayed for a good harvest.

Soybeans came into the spotlight in 2025, when China refused to buy the crop from the US, leaving farmers struggling. On the eve of the visit, the White House suggested there could be announcements on trade between the two countries, including soybeans and aircraft.

“All of these are regarded as prices that China can easily bear and pay to satisfy Trump’s willingness to compromise,” analyst Yang said.

Taiwan’s reaction to Trump-Xi summit

The meeting between Xi and Trump in Taipei, across the Taiwan Strait, is being closely monitored.

Responding to Xi’s warning, Taiwan government Cabinet spokesperson Michelle Lee said the Taipei government was grateful for the island’s steadfast US support. “The United States has also repeatedly reiterated its firm and clear position of support for Taiwan,” Lee said.

According to Chinese state media, Trump and Xi also talked about the war in the Middle East and Ukraine.

“Both the United States and China want to see a reduction in conflict or an outcome of a US war against Iran,” said Ali Wine, senior researcher at the International Crisis Group.

The Strait of Hormuz “must remain open”

The White House said in a statement that Xi and Trump agreed that the Strait of Hormuz, the key waterway through which 20% of the world’s gas flows, should remain open. .

The US delegation in Beijing is accompanied by a dozen top US officials, including SpaceX’s Elon Musk, Apple’s Tim Cook and NVIDIA’s Jensen Huang.

According to Chinese state media, Xi told business leaders that American companies are contributing to China’s reform and opening-up. “China’s door to American business will be wider,” Xi said. Added.

“They are eager to trade and do business and it will be completely reciprocated from our side,” Trump said.

The visit, which will include a state banquet, a tour of the compound that houses the Chinese Communist Party in Beijing and a lunch between the two leaders, is scheduled to end on Friday.