Chinese President Xi Jinping warned of potential 'clashes and even conflicts' with the United States over Taiwan during a meeting with President Donald Trump in Beijing. The warning came as the two leaders met for two hours at the Great Hall of the People on Thursday, May 14.
Xi's Warning on Taiwan
According to a statement from China's foreign ministry, Xi described Taiwan as 'the most important issue in China-US relations.' Beijing has prioritized Taiwan on the agenda, seeking to reduce US support for the self-governing island, which China claims as its territory. Xi has made 'unification' with Taiwan a core legacy goal and has not ruled out using force to achieve it.
The issue risked being overshadowed by the US war on Iran and trade disagreements. Trump later stated that Xi had pledged not to supply weapons to Iran, despite recent reports of Chinese arms manufacturers discussing deals with Tehran.
Trump's Praise for Xi
Trump called Xi a 'great leader' during their meeting, saying, 'I say to everybody you're a great leader. Sometimes people don't like me saying it, but I say it anyway, because it's true.' The two leaders have known each other for a long time, Trump added.
The White House readout mentioned discussions on market access for US firms in China and fentanyl controls, though these were absent from the Chinese readout. Both sides agreed that the Strait of Hormuz must remain open for energy flow, and Xi indicated China could buy more US oil to reduce dependence on Iran.
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