Xi Raises Taiwan Issue in Call with Trump as Both Leaders Push to Maintain Trade Truce

WASHINGTON: Chinese President Xi Jinping raised the sensitive issue of Taiwan during a phone call with US President Donald Trump on Monday, while urging Washington to maintain the momentum of their fragile trade truce. According to China’s foreign ministry, the discussion also covered the war in Ukraine, but Taiwan dominated the exchange amid growing tensions in the region.

Xi reaffirmed China’s claim over Taiwan, calling its “return” an integral part of the post-World War II international order, which he said was shaped through joint US–China efforts against “fascism and militarism.” He stressed that current regional tensions made it even more important for both countries to safeguard the outcomes of WWII.

Taiwan’s Premier Cho Jung-tai dismissed Xi’s comments, asserting that Taiwan is a fully sovereign state and that “there is no such option as return.”

The renewed friction comes as China remains locked in a diplomatic dispute with Japan, a key US ally. The tensions escalated after Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested that Tokyo might intervene militarily if Taiwan were attacked.

Although the United States does not officially recognize Taiwan as a sovereign state, it remains Taiwan’s most important defense and strategic partner. In his social media statement after the call, Trump praised “extremely strong” US–China relations but did not mention Taiwan. China, however, stated that Trump acknowledged the importance of the Taiwan issue for Beijing.

Trump confirmed he would visit China in April, while Xi is expected to visit Washington later in 2026. Meanwhile, Takaichi confirmed she also spoke with Trump regarding US–Japan ties and his discussion with Xi.

Both Japan and China have submitted letters to the United Nations in recent days over the Taiwan issue.

Trade Momentum Continues
The call followed their meeting in late October, the first since 2019, which was marked by high-stakes trade talks. Those discussions produced a tentative deal in which China agreed to suspend some export restrictions on critical minerals for one year. The United States, in return, committed to easing tariffs on Chinese goods, while Beijing pledged to buy 12 million tonnes of American soybeans this year and 25 million tonnes in 2026.

Xi told Trump they must “keep up the momentum,” saying the meeting in South Korea recalibrated China–US relations in a positive direction. Trump echoed a similar sentiment, saying both sides could now “set our sights on the big picture.”

Read more: Trump Says Democrats Who Urged Military to Refuse Orders ‘Should Be in Jail’

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said Washington hopes to finalize an agreement with Beijing on rare earth supplies by Thanksgiving.

Ukraine War Discussed
Trump and Xi also discussed the war in Ukraine. Trump is pushing for a new negotiated settlement, which critics say would favor Russian demands. Xi reiterated China’s position of supporting efforts to end the nearly four-year conflict.

The call reflects a complex mix of cooperation and rivalry as the world’s two largest economies attempt to stabilize relations while navigating major geopolitical disputes.