Xi to Trump on Taiwan: US-China ties risk ‘extremely dangerous’

Xi Jinping warned Donald Trump that ignoring China’s Taiwan demands could push US-China relations into an “extremely dangerous” phase, as talks in Beijing focused on trade and also touched on Iran and the Strait of Hormuz.

President Xi Jinping warned Donald Trump that U.S.-China relations could drift into an “extremely dangerous place” if Washington ignores Beijing’s demands over Taiwan, a sharp message delivered during the opening day of high-stakes talks in Beijing.

The warning came as both sides characterized the first day of leader-to-leader discussions as “good.” While trade dominated the public agenda, officials and transcripts show the conversations also reached into sensitive foreign-policy territory, including Iran and the Strait of Hormuz.

Before the meeting, U.S.. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the Trump administration is pressing China to assume a “more active role” in helping end the war between the U.S.. and Iran.. China is among Tehran’s closest global partners. a relationship that often places Beijing at the center of Washington’s efforts to shape outcomes in the Middle East.

In Beijing. Xi’s message on Taiwan was delivered behind closed doors. with officials saying he warned that worsening tensions could escalate into direct conflict.. That framing underscored how quickly the Taiwan issue has become a central fault line in the broader relationship. influencing everything from diplomacy and economic talks to military risk management.

Taiwan in the crosshairs

China maintains that Taiwan is part of its territory, even though the island governs itself as a democracy. Xi singled out “Taiwan independence” as the biggest threat to peace in the Taiwan Strait, and portrayed the issue as the most important element of the U.S.-China relationship.

Taiwan’s response pushed back directly on the premise that independence is the destabilizing driver.. Taiwan’s Ministry of Affairs said independence is not the issue. arguing instead that Beijing poses the primary risk to regional peace and stability.. The ministry also said that even while the U.S.. and China leaders met. the People’s Liberation Army continued to send military aircraft and ships to harass and threaten Taiwan in the region.

Trump lauds relationship, skips Taiwan warning

During the public portion of the meeting. Trump praised his longstanding rapport with Xi and highlighted the ability to work disputes out directly. without publicly addressing Taiwan.. He praised the two leaders’ history of resolving problems quickly and said he believed the relationship would have a “fantastic future.”

The contrast between Xi’s closed-door caution and Trump’s public emphasis on the smoothness of the relationship reflected a broader pattern in recent U.S.-China diplomacy: Taiwan can be treated as the most dangerous subject behind the curtain. even as other topics—like trade or broader geopolitical questions—fill the visible agenda.

The Taiwan issue has grown more sensitive in recent months.. In December, Trump approved an $11 billion arms package for Taiwan, though the weapons have not yet been delivered.. Just last week, Taiwan’s legislature approved $25 billion in special funding aimed at purchasing additional American weapons.

Those decisions have fed concerns on both sides.. For Washington. security assistance is often tied to deterrence and regional stability; for Beijing. such steps are frequently viewed as emboldening moves toward independence and raising the odds of confrontation.. With Xi warning that the relationship could become “extremely dangerous” if Taiwan-related demands are not met. the talks in Beijing appear poised to test whether the two governments can narrow gaps even as security tensions remain high.

Misryoum

Xi Jinping Trump talks US-China relations Taiwan warning Marco Rubio Iran Strait of Hormuz talks