BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping directly warned US President Donald Trump that mishandling the Taiwan issue could push the two superpowers into conflict. The stark message came during their high-stakes summit in Beijing on Thursday.
Partners not rivals
Xi greeted Trump with a grand red-carpet welcome at the Great Hall of the People, complete with military honours and cheering schoolchildren. Trump praised his host as a great leader and friend. He expressed optimism that China and the United States would enjoy a fantastic future together.
However, Xi struck a more serious tone. He stressed that the two nations should act as partners rather than rivals. The Chinese leader described Taiwan as the most important and sensitive issue in bilateral relations. “If mishandled, the two nations could collide or even come into conflict,” Xi said, according to state media. He urged both sides to avoid the so-called Thucydides Trap and build cooperation instead of confrontation.
Moreover, the summit addresses several pressing matters, including trade tariffs, technology rivalry, and the situation in Iran. Trump arrived seeking business deals and tariff relief, accompanied by prominent American executives such as Elon Musk and Jensen Huang. The US president also plans to discuss American arms sales to Taiwan during the talks.
Focus on stable relations
Xi emphasised that a stable China-US relationship benefits the entire world. Both leaders acknowledged the tensions that have marked their ties in recent years, including a intense trade war. Trump’s visit marks the first by a US president to Beijing in nearly a decade.
Observers watch closely to see whether the two sides can ease tensions and reach practical agreements. The summit continues with a state banquet and further discussions. Many analysts hope the leaders will find common ground on key global challenges while carefully managing their differences over Taiwan.
