Taiwan raised as top China–US concern
China’s President Xi Jinping has called Taiwan “the most important issue” in China–US relations during a phone call with US President Donald Trump, according to Chinese state media. Xi told Trump to be “prudent” when supplying arms to Taiwan, stressing that Beijing attaches “great importance” to relations with Washington and hopes both sides can resolve their differences.
Trump described the call as “excellent” and “long and thorough”.
Diplomatic contacts and planned visits
The call followed a series of recent visits by Western leaders to China, including UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, as countries seek to reset relations with the world’s second-largest economy.
Trump is due to visit China in April, a trip he said he “very much” looked forward to. He also said Beijing was considering buying 20 million tonnes of US soybeans, up from the current 12 million tonnes.
“The relationship with China, and my personal relationship with President Xi, is an extremely good one,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, adding that both leaders recognised the importance of maintaining ties.
Taiwan, Ukraine, and trade discussed
According to Trump, the leaders discussed several issues, including Taiwan, Russia’s war in Ukraine, the situation in Iran, and China’s purchase of oil and gas from the US.
On Taiwan, Xi said the self-governed island was “China’s territory” and that Beijing must safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity, warning that the US must handle the issue of Taiwan arms with prudence.
China has long vowed to “reunify” with Taiwan and has not ruled out the use of force.
Arms sales and regional tensions
The US maintains formal diplomatic ties with China rather than Taiwan, but remains the island’s most significant military supporter and largest arms supplier.
In December, the Trump administration announced an arms sale to Taiwan worth around $11bn, including advanced rocket launchers, self-propelled howitzers and missiles. Beijing said the move would accelerate a “dangerous and violent situation” across the Taiwan Strait.
On Thursday, Taiwan’s leader Lai Ching-te said relations with the US remained “rock solid” and that all ongoing co-operation projects were continuing.
Wider geopolitical context
Xi and Trump last spoke in November, when the Chinese president invited his US counterpart to visit. Relations have improved in recent months following last year’s tariff disputes and tensions over chips and rare earths.
Hours before his call with Trump, Xi also held a virtual meeting with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, during which both leaders praised closer ties between Beijing and Moscow.
Chinese state media said the calls demonstrated China’s intention to act as a responsible and rational world power at a time of heightened global tensions, with the US arms Taiwan question remaining a central point of friction.
Source: BBC News
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