Chinese President Xi Jinping has warned the United States to exercise restraint in supplying weapons to Taiwan during a phone call with US President Donald Trump, describing the status of the self-governed island as the most sensitive issue in relations between Beijing and Washington.
According to Chinese state media, Xi told Trump that Taiwan is a core concern for China and urged the US to handle arms sales to the island with prudence. He said China places great importance on its relationship with the United States and hopes the two sides can manage differences through dialogue and mutual respect.
Trump described the conversation, which took place on Wednesday, as extensive and constructive. Writing on social media, he said the discussion was “long and thorough” and emphasized the importance of maintaining stable ties with Beijing.
The call comes amid renewed diplomatic engagement between China and Western countries, following a series of high-level visits in recent months aimed at easing tensions with the world’s second-largest economy. Trump has said he plans to visit China in April and expressed optimism about continued cooperation.
Trade issues featured prominently in the talks. Trump said China was considering increasing purchases of US soybeans to around 20 million tonnes, up from roughly 12 million tonnes currently. He also said the leaders discussed China’s imports of American oil and gas.
Beyond trade, Trump said the two presidents exchanged views on Russia’s war in Ukraine and the situation in Iran.
On Taiwan, Xi reiterated Beijing’s position that the island is part of China and said the government is determined to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity. He cautioned that US arms sales risk heightening tensions across the Taiwan Strait.
China has long maintained that it seeks reunification with Taiwan and has not ruled out the use of force. The United States, while officially recognizing Beijing rather than Taipei, remains Taiwan’s most significant security partner and its largest supplier of military equipment.
In December, the Trump administration approved a major arms package for Taiwan valued at about $11 billion, including missile systems, rocket launchers and artillery. China condemned the move at the time, warning it could further destabilize the region.
Xi told Trump that while Washington has its own concerns, China does as well, and said progress would depend on both sides working toward common ground in a spirit of equality and mutual benefit.
Following the call, Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te said relations with the United States remained strong and that ongoing cooperation between Taipei and Washington was continuing without disruption.
Xi and Trump last spoke in November, when Xi invited Trump to visit China. Relations between the two countries have shown signs of improvement in recent months after a period marked by tariff disputes and disagreements over technology and rare earth exports.
Negotiators from both sides have since reached preliminary understandings on trade issues, including agricultural imports and a framework related to the US operations of the social media platform TikTok.
Earlier on Wednesday, Xi also held a virtual meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which both leaders highlighted the deepening partnership between Beijing and Moscow. Russian media reported that Putin accepted an invitation to visit China later this year.
Chinese state media said Xi’s recent diplomatic engagements demonstrate Beijing’s intention to promote dialogue and stability at a time of growing global uncertainty.