May 14, 2026 | 02:51 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Chinese President Xi Jinping warned Donald Trump that tensions between China and the United States could escalate into conflict if the Taiwan issue is mishandled, according to Chinese state media cited by DW.“The Taiwan question is the most important issue in China-US relations,” Xi said, as quoted by state broadcaster CCTV.“If mishandled, the two nations could collide or even come into conflict, pushing the entire China-US relationship into a highly perilous situation,” he added.China on Wednesday also strongly opposed a newly announced U.S. arms package for Taiwan worth US$11.1 billion (€9.45 billion), reportedly the largest American weapons deal ever approved for the island. Beijing said the move further heightened tensions over Taiwan and reflected Washington’s growing military support for Taipei.China considers Taiwan part of its territory and has repeatedly stated that the island must eventually be “reunified” with mainland China.In recent years, Beijing has intensified military pressure around Taiwan through large-scale drills, naval patrols, and air incursions near the island. In December 2025, China conducted exercises simulating a blockade of Taiwan’s ports, raising concern among regional governments and Western allies.China’s rhetoric on Taiwan has also evolved, shifting from a focus on preventing Taiwanese independence toward increasingly assertive calls for reunification.The United States, meanwhile, continues to maintain political and military support for Taiwan, including through arms sales and strategic cooperation, despite officially recognizing Beijing under the “One China” policy.Trump arrived in Beijing on Wednesday evening, May 13, for a summit with Xi Jinping that has drawn global attention amid expectations the leaders could discuss the Iran conflict, Taiwan tensions, trade relations, and competition over advanced technologies.According to Antara, Trump was accompanied by more than a dozen executives from major American companies as he seeks to secure a major business agreement between the world’s two largest economies despite years of trade friction and geopolitical rivalry.Ahead of the two-day summit, which runs through Friday, May 15, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng met in South Korea just hours before Trump’s arrival. Both officials have played key roles in shaping U.S.-China relations during Trump’s second administration.Before departing for Beijing, Trump wrote on social media that his first request to Xi would be to “open up China.”Referring to the business leaders accompanying him, Trump added, “These brilliant people can work their magic, and help bring the People’s Republic (of China) to an even higher level.”Read: Xi Jinping on US Relations: 'We Should Be Partners, Not Rivals'Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
