In brief
President Trump and China's Xi Jinping held a phone call on Monday discussing major topics including trade relations, the contentious issue of Taiwan, and the Ukraine crisis. Xi reinforced China's stance on Taiwan, while the U.S. maintains its obligation to support Taiwan's defense. Although trade matters were discussed, concrete agreements were not revealed. The dialogue is part of efforts to ensure a steady trajectory in U.S.-China relations following their recent summit.
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke by phone on Monday to discuss significant issues such as trade, Taiwan, and the crisis in Ukraine. This conversation comes nearly one month after their in-person meeting in Busan, South Korea.
During the call, Xi emphasized that Taiwan’s integration with mainland China is an integral part of the post-war international order, reinforcing Beijing's intent towards the self-governing island. A U.S. official confirmed the call took place, though further details were not disclosed.
This conversation was sparked following comments from Japan's Prime Minister, which indicated potential military involvement should China take aggressive actions toward Taiwan, complicating the geopolitical climate in the region. Japan is a significant U.S. ally, and relations between China and Japan have recently deteriorated.
Xi noted that both nations, having fought together during World War II, should “jointly safeguard” the victory of that era. Though the U.S. does not take a public stance on Taiwan's sovereignty, it opposes any forceful attempt by China to assert control over the island, underlining its commitment to provide defense support to Taiwan.
Earlier this month, the Trump administration approved a substantial arms deal with Taiwan, inciting protests from Beijing that deemed it a violation of the one-China principle. In this context, Trump’s strategic ambiguity regarding U.S. military involvement in a potential Taiwan conflict remains a critical point.
Trade discussions also surfaced but without confirmed outcomes regarding U.S. agricultural exports such as soybeans. Additionally, Xi mentioned that U.S.-China relations have shown a generally positive trajectory, expressing hopes for enhanced cooperation.
The dialogue also touched upon the unfolding situation in Ukraine, with Xi urging for resolutions at its root, indicating Beijing's interest in diplomatic engagement.
