politics
Trump and Xi Meet in Beijing, Issue Statements on Iran and Taiwan
Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping concluded two hours of talks in Beijing on Thursday, announcing progress toward stabilizing bilateral ties while acknowledging sharp differences over Taiwan, Iran and other issues. Xi warned that Taiwan remains the most important and sensitive matter in U.S.-China relations and could lead to clashes. Trump said Xi pledged not to send weapons to Iran.
May 14, 1:37 PM·2m read3 sources
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Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping concluded two-hour talks in Beijing on Thursday, stating that the meeting produced progress in stabilizing relations between the world's two largest economies even as major differences remained unresolved. Xi told Trump that Taiwan was "the most important issue in China-US relations" and warned of potential "clashes and even conflicts" if the matter is mishandled, according to a statement released by China's foreign ministry after the meeting.
The Chinese leader described Taiwan as a core interest that must be handled with care. Trump said Xi pledged "strongly" that China would not send weapons to Iran amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East. The U.S. president told reporters the overall relationship with China would be "better than ever" once outstanding issues are addressed.
The summit took place against a backdrop of persistent friction on trade, technology and regional security. Both sides described the discussions as candid and constructive but offered few concrete outcomes or joint agreements.
Xi's explicit warning on Taiwan underscored the depth of disagreement between the two governments. The Chinese president reiterated Beijing's longstanding position that the island is part of China and that external interference risks serious consequences.
Trump has not yet decided whether to proceed with a planned arms package for Taiwan, according to statements issued by the White House on Friday. U.S. officials have continued security cooperation with Taiwan despite Chinese objections. The two leaders also touched on Iran's nuclear program and regional influence.
