Xi Warns Trump Taiwan Mishandling Could Trigger Clashes During Beijing Summit

Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump began a two-day summit in Beijing with Xi telling Trump, “We must make it work and never mess it up,” and warning that Taiwan “is the most important issue in China-US relations.”

NBC News reported that Xi warned Trump that mishandling the Beijing-claimed island of Taiwan would cause “clashes and even conflicts, putting the entire relationship in great jeopardy,” according to China’s foreign ministry.

9News

The NBC News account said Trump also discussed the Iran war and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz during the summit with Secretary of State Marco Rubio telling NBC News that the U.S. was not asking for China’s help with Iran.

The CNN account said Trump, in a comment tied to the Iran war, said his military campaign against Iran is “to be continued!” while the AP News live updates said Trump told reporters Xi offered to help broker peace with Iran and a reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

In the EFE report, Xi urged the United States to be “partners, not rivals,” while Trump expressed confidence that the two giants would have a “fantastic future together.”

AP News said Trump told reporters Xi offered to help negotiate an end to the war and a reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, while Trump also said Xi assured him that China wouldn’t provide Iran with military equipment.

CNN reported that Trump said Xi pledged not to provide military equipment to Tehran, and it also said Xi told Trump Taiwan “is the most important issue in China-US relations” and could create a “highly dangerous situation” if mishandled.

AP News

In the AP News live updates, Xi opened the bilateral meeting by cautioning about potential conflict between the U.S. and China, and the report said Xi warned that differences over Taiwan could bring the two countries into clashes or conflict.

BBC described the first day as a grand welcome at the Great Hall of the People and quoted Trump saying, “You're a great leader. I say it to everybody,” as he shook hands with Xi.

BBC also framed the central unresolved questions as Iran and Taiwan, noting that soon after talks began, state media published comments from Xi making clear that tensions over Taiwan could prove challenging.

CNBC reported that Xi told American CEOs travelling with Trump that China will “open wider,” citing Xinhua’s account that Xi said the door to business in China will only open wider and that China welcomes the United States to enhance mutually beneficial cooperation.

“- Published Xi Jinping threw a grand welcome for Donald Trump on the first day of a visit that could reset ties between the rival superpowers”

BBC

The CNBC report said Trump introduced Elon Musk, Nvidia’s CEO Jensen Huang, and Apple CEO Tim Cook to Xi one by one, and it quoted the White House posting on X that the two sides discussed ways to enhance economic cooperation, including expanding market access for American businesses into China.

BBC said the reception and ceremony were paired with thorny issues remaining, including whether the trade truce would last and whether Beijing could help broker a deal on Iran.

In the Japan Today account, Xi told Trump that trade talks were making progress but warned that disagreement over Taiwan could send relations down a dangerous path, and it quoted Xi’s message that Taiwan was the most important issue in U.S.-China relations.

The EFE report said Xi and Trump addressed international issues beyond Taiwan and Iran, and it added that the two leaders agreed on mutual support for an informal meeting of APEC leaders scheduled for November 18 and 19 in Shenzhen, China, and the G20 summit to be held December 14 and 15 in Miami, United States.