Chinese leader Xi Jinping described Taiwan as “the most important issue” in China–US relations during a phone call with US President Donald Trump on Wednesday.
According to local media reports, Xi told Trump to be “cautious” when supplying weapons to Taiwan, adding that he “places great importance” on relations with Washington and hopes that both sides can find ways to resolve their differences.
Trump described the phone call as “very good” and “very thorough.”
Wednesday’s call follows a series of visits by Western leaders — including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer — to China in recent months, aimed at restoring ties with the world’s second-largest economy.
Trump himself is set to visit China in April, a trip he said he is “very much looking forward to.”
He added that Beijing is considering purchasing 20 million tonnes of US soybeans, up from the current 12 million tonnes.
“The relationship with China and my personal relationship with President Xi is extremely good, and we both understand how important it is to keep it that way,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.
The two leaders last spoke by phone in November, discussing a range of issues including trade, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, fentanyl, and Taiwan, according to Trump and China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In addition to Taiwan and soybeans, Trump and Xi also discussed Russia’s war in Ukraine, the current situation in Iran, and China’s purchase of oil and gas from the United States during Wednesday’s call, the US president said.
Regarding Taiwan, Xi stated that the self-governed island is “Chinese territory” and that Beijing “must safeguard [Taiwan’s] sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
“The United States should handle the issue of arms sales to Taiwan with prudence,” Xi warned, according to China’s state news agency Xinhua.
China has long pledged to “reunify” with Taiwan and has not ruled out the use of force to achieve this goal.
In December, the Trump administration announced a major arms sale to Taiwan worth approximately $11 billion, including advanced rocket launchers, self-propelled howitzers, and various missiles.
At the time, Beijing said the move to “support Taiwan independence” would only “accelerate the push toward a dangerous and violent situation across the Taiwan Strait.”
“Just as the United States has its concerns, China also has its own concerns,” Xi told Trump on Wednesday.
