Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi on Thursday urged the United States to maintain stability between the two powers and warned that Taiwan posed the biggest risk, weeks ahead of President Donald Trump's scheduled visit to Beijing.
Diplomatic Call Highlights Tensions
In a phone call with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Wang Yi stressed that both sides should safeguard the hard-won stability in China-US relations, according to a readout from China's foreign ministry. The call also touched on the Middle East, where China has been a key partner of Iran but has largely kept its distance after Trump joined Israel in attacking Iran, causing global oil prices to spike.
A State Department official confirmed the phone call, stating it was to arrange Trump's trip but did not provide further details.
Trump's Upcoming Visit
Trump is scheduled to visit China on May 14-15 to meet President Xi Jinping, marking his first trip to the rival power since returning to the White House in January 2025. During Trump's first year back in office, Washington and Beijing clashed over trade and tariffs until a truce was declared in October, when Trump and Xi met in South Korea.
Wang told Rubio that both sides should "safeguard the hard-won stability, prepare well for key high-level interactions, expand areas of cooperation" and manage their differences.
Taiwan as a Core Issue
While ties have generally remained stable under Trump and Xi, Wang emphasized that the Taiwan issue concerns China's core interests and is the biggest risk point in China-US relations. Beijing claims Taiwan as part of its territory awaiting reunification and is sharply critical of US military assistance to the self-ruled island and its support of Taipei on the international stage.
"The United States must honor its commitments and make the right choices, opening new perspectives for bilateral cooperation and do its part to promote world peace," Wang said.
The Chinese foreign ministry statement said Wang and Rubio had exchanged views on the Middle East situation but offered no further details.
