Xi Trump call Taiwan dominated diplomatic discussions on Wednesday as Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump spoke by phone about bilateral relations, trade, and regional security.
According to Chinese state media, Xi called for “mutual respect” between Beijing and Washington while warning the United States to exercise caution over arms sales to Taiwan.
The call comes amid ongoing tensions across the Taiwan Strait and renewed uncertainty over US China relations during Trump’s second term. Both leaders publicly described the conversation as positive, but differences over Taiwan remain unresolved.
Xi Urges Stable China US Relations
Xi told Trump that China and the United States should address disputes gradually and build trust to manage their relationship as major global powers. State broadcaster CCTV quoted Xi as saying that 2026 should be a year of peaceful coexistence and win win cooperation.
Trade was identified as a key area of discussion, alongside global issues including the war in Ukraine and Iran. Xi emphasized that resolving issues one by one could help avoid confrontation between the world’s two largest economies.
Trump Describes Call as “Excellent”
Trump said on his Truth Social platform that the call was “excellent” and described relations with China as “extremely good.” He said his personal relationship with Xi remained strong and stressed the importance of maintaining stable ties.
Trump added that the leaders discussed Taiwan, trade, Ukraine, and Iran, as well as a planned visit to China later this year, which he said he was looking forward to.
Taiwan Central to Dispute
Xi warned Washington that the Taiwan issue is the most important and sensitive matter in China US relations. According to CCTV, he urged the United States to handle arms sales to Taiwan with caution.
China claims Taiwan as part of its territory despite never having ruled the democratically governed island of 23 million people. Beijing has not ruled out the use of force to annex Taiwan.
The United States does not formally recognize Taiwan but remains its main military backer. In December, Washington approved arms sales worth $11 billion, according to Taipei. Shortly after, China conducted large scale live fire drills simulating a blockade of key Taiwanese ports.
Taiwan Responds to Xi Trump Call
Taiwan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Chen Ming chi told AFP that the call would help stabilize regional security despite China’s growing military pressure. He said Taipei was not concerned about the phone conversation and described relations with Washington as solid and strong.
Chen said the main obstacle to future arms purchases was not Beijing’s warnings but resistance within Taiwan’s opposition controlled parliament, which has blocked additional defense funding.
Lai Reaffirms US Ties
President Lai Ching te said Taiwan US cooperation would not change following Xi’s remarks. He said US commitments to Taiwan remained unchanged and that communication channels between Taipei and Washington were strong.
Taiwan’s foreign ministry said it supported efforts to reduce the risks posed by threats or unilateral use of force in the region.
Conclusion:
While both Beijing and Washington portrayed the Xi Trump call as constructive, Taiwan remains a central point of tension. Taipei has publicly welcomed dialogue but continues to rely on US support as China maintains military pressure across the Taiwan Strait.
