in brief
- China has maintained that Taiwan is its primary strategic focus in its relationship with America.
- Donald Trump is in Beijing on a state visit that looks increasingly unlikely to secure any major political wins.
China's Xi Jinping warned United States President Donald Trump that their two countries could clash over Taiwan if the issue is not handled properly, an unusually harsh admonition that stood in contrast to the American leader’s praise for his counterpart.
The exchange at a highly anticipated summit in Beijing on Thursday underscored just how far apart Trump and Xi still are on thorny issues, including the war in Iran, trade disputes and Washington's relations with Taiwan, which is self-ruled but which China claims as part of its territory.
It also suggested that Trump's three-day visit to China is likely to be longer on pageantry and symbolism than substantive political or economic breakthroughs.
The pair met for about two hours behind closed doors at the Great Hall of the People after an elaborate welcome ceremony featuring booming cannons, a band playing "The Star-Spangled Banner" and China’s national anthem, and hundreds of schoolchildren jumping and waving flowers and American and Chinese flags.
According to a post on X by Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning, Xi told Trump that "the Taiwan question is the most important issue in China-US relations".
"If it is handled properly, the bilateral relationship will enjoy overall stability. Otherwise, the two countries will have clashes and even conflicts, putting the entire relationship in great jeopardy," she wrote.
That comment followed a brief public exchange before the meeting began in which Trump told Xi: "You’re a great leader. Sometimes people don’t like me saying it, but I say it anyway, because it’s true."
"It’s an honour to be your friend," Trump said before promising that the US-China relationship "is going to be better than ever before".
Trump later told Fox News in an interview that Xi said during their conversations that he "would like to be of help" in negotiating an end to the Iran war and reopening the Strait of Hormuz to oil shipments.
Xi was far more stark in his opening public remarks, expressing hope that the US and China could avoid conflict and asking "whether the two countries can transcend the Thucydides Trap' and forge a new model for relations between major powers".
That's a term, popular in foreign policy studies, referring to the idea that when a rising power threatens to displace an established one, the result is often war. Xi has used the term for years, but using it as Trump offered optimism was noteworthy and foreshadowed his closed-door comments on Taiwan.
Secretary of state Marco Rubio later said US policy toward Taiwan was "unchanged" but warned that it would be "a terrible mistake" for China to take Taiwan by force.
"They always raise it on their side. We always make clear our position, and we move on to the other topics," Rubio, who is travelling with the president, said in an interview with NBC News.
Both emphasized the importance of China-US relations
After their meeting, Xi took Trump on a tour of the Temple of Heaven, then hosted a state banquet for him. The Chinese leader used his evening toast to note that he and Trump had kept US-China relations "generally stable" in a turbulent world.
"Achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and making America great again can go hand in hand," Xi said, referring to Trump’s political movement.
"We can help each other succeed and advance the well-being of the whole world."
In his toast, Trump said his visit had been "a great honour" punctuated by a "fantastic" day. He said matters "all good for the United States and China" were discussed.
Trump also said Xi would make a reciprocal visit to the White House on 24 September.
The positive tone was reflected in the White House assessment of the earlier meetings, which said both leaders had touched on ways to enhance economic cooperation, including expanding market access for American businesses in China and increasing Chinese investment into US industries.
The White House readout did not mention Taiwan directly, but, in relation to Iran, said both sides had agreed that the strait must remain open. The strait’s closure has stranded tankers and caused energy prices to spike, threatening global economic growth.
The war is dominating Trump's domestic agenda and stoking fears about the prospect of a weakening US economy as November’s midterm elections — when Republicans hope to maintain control of Congress — approach.
China is the largest purchaser of Iranian oil, and Rubio said in an interview with Fox News that Trump would make the case for Beijing to exert its influence on Iran, noting that administration officials would underscore that "economies are melting down because of this crisis," which means consumers are "buying less Chinese product".
It's not clear if Trump persuaded Xi to wield his influence.
The White House instead said Xi opposed any implementation of tolls on vessels crossing the strait — as Iran has proposed — and expressed interest in China potentially purchasing more US oil to reduce Chinese dependence on Gulf oil in the future.
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