Chinese President Xi Jinping warned Thursday that tensions between China and the United States over Taiwan could lead to “clashes and even conflicts,” delivering a stark message to U.S. President Donald Trump during high-level talks in Beijing.
The warning came as the two leaders opened a closely watched two-day summit in the Chinese capital, where they were greeted with a formal ceremony at the Great Hall of the People.
Despite warm public remarks from both sides during the opening events, the summit unfolded against a backdrop of deep disagreements over Taiwan, trade tensions, and the ongoing conflict involving Iran.
According to a Chinese government summary of the meeting, Xi emphasized that Taiwan remains the most sensitive and important issue in relations between Washington and Beijing.
The Chinese readout said Xi told Trump that if the Taiwan issue is managed carefully, overall relations between the two powers could remain “generally stable.”
“Otherwise, the two countries will have clashes and even conflicts, putting the entire relationship in great jeopardy,” Xi reportedly said.
The summit comes as both governments attempt to stabilize ties after months of heightened geopolitical and economic tensions following Trump’s return to office last year. Officials on both sides have described the U.S.-China relationship as one of the most consequential in the world.
