China warns Trump of possible “conflicts” with United States if tension increases over Taiwan

The president of China, Xi Jinping, has warned Donald Trump that relations between Washington and Beijing could lead to “frictions and even conflicts” if the dialogue on Taiwan is not handled adequately. During their meeting in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Xi assured that this issue represents “the most important question” in the bilateral relationship between both powers.

The Chinese leader insisted that “Taiwan's independence and peace in the strait are incompatible”, making Beijing's position clear against any movement that supports greater autonomy for the island. Xi also warned that poor management of this issue could lead relations between both countries to “a very dangerous situation”.

Despite the firm tone of his warnings, the Chinese president also left room for diplomatic understanding. Xi argued that, if both parties correctly manage their differences, relations between China and the United States can remain “generally stable”, emphasizing that the main objective must be to preserve peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.

The meeting was also marked by a cordial tone in the economic sphere. Trump described Xi as “a great leader” and showed interest in strengthening commercial relations between both economies. For his part, the Chinese leader argued that Washington and Beijing “must be partners and not adversaries”, insisting that economic cooperation benefits both countries and the rest of the world.

Xi Jinping also launched a message in favor of negotiation to resolve commercial differences. The Chinese leader affirmed that “there are no winners” in an economic war and argued that “consultation on an equal footing is the only correct option”. Furthermore, he highlighted the latest commercial contacts between both powers as “positive” and called for maintaining the momentum of dialogue to avoid new international tensions.