Xi Warns Trump on Taiwan, Urges Caution to Avoid Conflict

Chinese President Xi Jinping cautioned U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday that mishandling the Taiwan issue could lead to clashes or even conflicts, putting the overall U.S.-China relationship “in great jeopardy,” according to Xinhua. Xi emphasized that Taiwan independence and peace in the Taiwan Strait are “as irreconcilable as fire and water” and described the Taiwan question as “the most important issue in China-U.S. relations.”

The warning came at the start of a high-stakes, two-day summit in Beijing, focused on trade, tariffs, regional security, and emerging technologies including artificial intelligence. Trump and Xi opened the discussions at the Great Hall of the People, joined by top U.S. business leaders and Chinese officials, including Premier Li Qiang and diplomats such as Wang Yi and Zheng Shanjie.

Despite Xi’s caution, the official U.S. readout characterized the meeting as “good” and focused on enhancing economic cooperation. Topics discussed included maintaining the Strait of Hormuz open, increasing U.S. agricultural exports to China, and potential Chinese purchases of American oil to reduce dependency on volatile energy routes.

Xi also referenced the “Thucydides Trap,” a historical concept illustrating how rising and established powers often fall into conflict. He suggested both countries work together to overcome global challenges and create “a brighter future” for humanity.

The summit included interactions with U.S. corporate leaders, highlighting the role of multinational companies in facilitating dialogue between the two superpowers. At a state banquet, Xi and Trump both praised the historic visit and underscored mutual respect as key to stable ties. Trump described Xi as a “friend” and noted the opportunity to build a cooperative future between the two nations.

The meeting marks the first visit by a sitting U.S. president to China in nearly a decade, against a backdrop of heightened trade tensions, technology restrictions, and regional security concerns. Observers noted that China enters the summit in a stronger position compared with 2017, having successfully pushed back on prior U.S. tariff measures