BEIJING — Chinese President Xi Jinping warned U.S. President Donald Trump that mishandling the Taiwan issue could push relations between the world’s two largest economies toward “clashes and even conflicts” during a high-stakes summit in Beijing on Thursday.
The warning came during a closed-door meeting that lasted more than two hours as both leaders opened a two-day summit focused on trade tensions, regional security, and the ongoing conflict involving Iran. Chinese state media said Xi described Taiwan as the most sensitive issue in China-U.S. relations and cautioned that poor handling of the matter could place bilateral ties in “extreme danger.”
Despite the sharp warning, the summit also produced signs of diplomatic progress. Xi said recent negotiations between Chinese and American trade officials in South Korea yielded “balanced and positive outcomes,” signaling efforts to preserve a fragile trade truce established during previous talks last year.
The White House summary of the meeting reportedly focused more on economic cooperation and energy concerns, including discussions about reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route heavily affected by the ongoing Iran conflict. Trump also pushed for expanded Chinese purchases of American products, including agricultural goods, energy supplies, and Boeing aircraft.
Taiwan remained a central point of tension throughout the summit. The United States continues to support Taiwan militarily under longstanding American law, despite not maintaining formal diplomatic ties with Taipei. China strongly opposes U.S. arms sales to the self-governed island, which Beijing claims as part of its territory.
Recent reports indicate that Taiwan is now considering resubmitting portions of a defense modernization budget that had earlier been rejected by its opposition-controlled parliament. The proposal includes funding for drones and missile defense systems amid growing concerns over regional security.
Taiwanese officials responded cautiously to the summit developments, saying China’s military activities and pressure campaigns remain the primary threat to peace and stability in the region.
Analysts said Xi’s remarks reflected one of Beijing’s clearest warnings in recent years regarding Taiwan. Joe Mazur, a geopolitical analyst at consultancy Trivium China, described the message as a direct signal to Washington not to escalate the issue further.
The summit also highlighted broader geopolitical and economic concerns. Trump entered the talks while facing pressure at home from inflation, the continuing Iran war, and legal limitations on tariff policies. Xi, meanwhile, appeared to hold a stronger negotiating position as China seeks relief from U.S. restrictions on advanced semiconductor technology and chipmaking equipment.
During a state banquet attended by senior officials and business executives, Xi emphasized the importance of stable ties between Washington and Beijing.
“We must make it work and never mess it up,” Xi said during the dinner.
Trump later invited Xi for a reciprocal visit to the White House on September 24, marking what could become another major diplomatic engagement between the two global powers later this year.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
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