BEIJING — Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a warning to U.S. President Donald Trump during their high-stakes summit in Beijing on Thursday, cautioning that mishandling the issue of Taiwan could push the United States and China toward confrontation.
The warning came during the opening session of a two-day meeting between the two leaders at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People, where both sides are attempting to stabilize relations strained by trade disputes, military tensions, and the ongoing war in Iran.
According to China’s official readout of the meeting, Xi told Trump that Taiwan remains the most sensitive issue in U.S.-China relations and warned that if the matter is “mishandled,” the two countries could face “collision or even clashes.”
The statement underscored how Taiwan continues to be at the center of the rivalry between Washington and Beijing. China views the self-governing island as part of its territory and has repeatedly opposed American arms sales and diplomatic engagement with Taipei. The United States, meanwhile, maintains unofficial ties with Taiwan and remains its primary security partner.
Despite the warning, both leaders publicly projected optimism about broader relations. Trump praised his long-running relationship with Xi and emphasized economic cooperation, while Xi called for both nations to avoid falling into what he described as the “Thucydides Trap,” a phrase often used to describe the danger of conflict between rising and established world powers.
“We’re going to have a fantastic future together,” Trump said in a brief statement before the start of the meeting. He praised Xi, calling him a “great leader”.
“You’re a great leader,” he said. “Sometimes people don’t like me saying it, but I say it anyway because it’s true.”
Trade and economic issues also dominated the summit agenda. Trump arrived in Beijing alongside several prominent American business leaders, including Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Apple’s Tim Cook, and manufacturing firms, as the White House pushes for expanded access to Chinese markets and continued trade negotiations.
The summit comes at a politically sensitive moment for both countries. The U.S. is navigating economic pressure tied to the Iran war, while China is seeking to maintain stable export markets amid slowing global growth. Analysts view the meeting less as a breakthrough moment and more as an effort to prevent tensions from escalating further.
The Chinese president told Trump that trade wars have “no winner,” adding that U.S.-China economic and trade ties are “mutually beneficial.”
“Our economic and trade teams produced generally balanced and positive outcomes. This is good news for the people of the two countries and the world,” Xi said, according to Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning.
In addition to Taiwan and trade, the leaders are expected to discuss artificial intelligence, rare earth mineral exports, regional security in Asia and China’s relationship with Iran.
Following the meeting, a notable change in demeanor from Trump was noticed. As the two leaders toured the Temple of Heaven, reporters asked the American leader how the meeting went.
‘It’s a great place. Incredible. China is beautiful,” Trump said as he ignored shouted questions about Taiwan being brought up in the meeting.
