Beijing, May 14: U.S. President Donald Trump is currently on a three-day visit to China. During a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, various topics were discussed, including trade, technology, and notably, Taiwan. Xi warned that mishandling the Taiwan issue could lead to conflicts between the U.S. and China. According to U.S. media reports, Taiwan has accused China of being the sole source of insecurity in the region.
Taiwan’s Cabinet spokesperson, Michelle Lee, stated, “The military threat from China is the only source of insecurity in the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific region. Continuous improvements in defense and effective joint deterrence are crucial for ensuring regional security.”
Chinese state media reported that President Xi emphasized to President Trump that Taiwan is the most critical issue in U.S.-China relations. He cautioned that mishandling this matter could create a dangerous situation.
The Chinese Communist Party claims sovereignty over Taiwan and has vowed to take control if necessary. Xi remarked, “The independence of Taiwan and cross-strait peace are fundamentally opposed, much like fire and water. Maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is the most significant common interest between China and the U.S.”
While the U.S. maintains strong informal relations with Taiwan, which operates democratically, it has deliberately refrained from clarifying whether it would intervene militarily if China were to attack Taiwan.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning also shared points from the bilateral talks on social media platform X, warning, “If the Taiwan issue is not handled properly, it could lead to confrontation and even conflict between the two countries, jeopardizing the entire bilateral relationship.”
She emphasized that Taiwan’s independence and cross-strait peace are entirely contradictory, just as fire and water cannot coexist. After visiting the historic Temple of Heaven, Trump praised the UNESCO World Heritage site. However, when asked about Taiwan, he refrained from making any comments.
Additionally, Trump and Xi discussed issues related to the Middle East, the Ukraine war, and North Korea during their talks in Beijing. The ministry’s statement noted, “Both leaders exchanged views on significant international and regional issues, including the situation in the Middle East, the Ukraine crisis, and the Korean Peninsula.”
China is considered a close ally of Iran and is the world’s largest buyer of Iranian oil, which may explain Beijing’s support for Tehran and its serious consultations with the U.S. on this matter.
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