Beijing, May 14: Taiwan has responded sharply to Chinese President Xi Jinping’s recent statements during a bilateral meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump. The discussions, which took place during Trump’s three-day visit to China, covered various topics including trade, technology, and notably, Taiwan. Xi warned that mishandling the Taiwan issue could lead to conflict between the U.S. and China.
According to U.S. media reports, Taiwan’s Cabinet spokesperson, Michelle Lee, stated, “The sole source of insecurity in the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific region is China’s military threat. Continuous improvement of defense and effective joint deterrence are crucial factors for ensuring regional security.”
Chinese state media reported that President Xi emphasized to Trump that Taiwan is the most critical issue in U.S.-China relations, warning that improper handling could create a dangerous situation.
The Chinese Communist Party claims Taiwan and has vowed to take it by force if necessary. Xi remarked, “Taiwan’s independence and cross-strait peace are fundamentally opposed to each other, much like fire and water. Maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is the greatest common interest between China and the U.S.”
While the U.S. maintains strong informal ties with Taiwan, which operates democratically, it has deliberately refrained from clarifying whether it would intervene militarily if China were to attack Taiwan.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning also shared points from the bilateral talks on social media, stating that Xi warned, “If the Taiwan issue is not handled properly, it could lead to confrontation and even conflict between the two countries, jeopardizing the entire bilateral relationship.”
She stressed that Taiwan’s independence and cross-strait peace are entirely contradictory, akin to fire and water not being able to coexist. Following a visit to the historic Temple of Heaven, Trump praised the UNESCO heritage site and China, but did not respond to media questions regarding Taiwan.
Additionally, Trump and Xi discussed issues related to the Middle East, the Ukraine war, and North Korea during their talks in Beijing. The ministry’s statement noted, “Both leaders exchanged views on major international and regional issues such as the situation in the Middle East, the Ukraine crisis, and the Korean Peninsula.”
China is considered a close ally of Iran and is the world’s largest buyer of Iranian oil, which may explain Beijing’s support for Tehran while engaging in serious discussions with the U.S. on this matter.
Deependra Singh Chundawat is a Senior Sub-Editor at Udaipur Kiran, specializing in a wide range of technology topics including mobile phones, applications, gaming, PCs, and wearables. Along with covering the latest tech news, he also creates engaging web stories. Passionate about emerging technologies, he stays up to date with the newest trends and enjoys reading and writing about the latest mobile launches and digital innovations.
