Chinese President Xi Jinping, while meeting with President Donald Trump in Beijing overnight, warned there would be “clashes” and “conflicts” over Taiwan if the United States does not handle the regional dispute well.China has claimed sovereignty over Taiwan for years, while the U.S. has backed the self-governing island’s military capabilities through arms sales and strategic planning in the event of a possible invasion from mainland China. Despite the aid, the U.S. does not officially recognize Taiwan’s independence. The issue threatens to derail the U.S.-China relationship.“The Taiwan question is the most important issue in China-U.S. relations,” Xi said in the closed-door meeting, according to a readout from the Chinese Foreign Ministry. “If it is handled properly, the bilateral relationship will enjoy overall stability. Otherwise, the two countries will have clashes and even conflicts, putting the entire relationship in great jeopardy.”
Trump did not acknowledge Xi’s statement on Taiwan and moved to the next topic of discussion, the Washington Post reported, citing an anonymous White House official. Taiwan was not mentioned in the White House’s readout.
The meeting primarily focused on strengthening trade ties and resolving the Iran war.
