China’s President Xi Jinping told U.S. President Donald Trump that Taiwan remains the “most important issue” in relations between the two countries during a lengthy phone call that also touched on trade, global conflicts, and energy cooperation, according to state media and statements from both sides.
The conversation underscored how central Taiwan has become to U.S.–China diplomacy, with both leaders framing the issue as critical to broader ties between Washington and Beijing. Xi urged caution over American weapons sales to the self-governed island, while Trump described the call as constructive and said cooperation between the two powers remained essential.
Xi warned that Taiwan is “China’s territory” and said Beijing must safeguard its sovereignty, adding that Washington should act “prudently” when handling arms sales to Taipei. The Chinese leader also emphasized the importance of maintaining stable relations and resolving disagreements through dialogue and mutual respect.
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Trump characterized the exchange as “excellent” and “long and thorough,” saying he valued his personal relationship with Xi and the broader bilateral partnership. He also noted that Beijing was considering expanding soybean purchases from the United States, potentially increasing imports from roughly 12 million tonnes to about 20 million tonnes.
Beyond Taiwan and trade, both leaders discussed Russia’s war in Ukraine, tensions involving Iran, and energy cooperation, including China’s purchases of U.S. oil and gas. The call came ahead of Trump’s planned visit to China in April, which he said he was looking forward to.
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Taiwan remains a persistent flashpoint. The United States maintains formal diplomatic relations with Beijing but continues to support Taiwan militarily and politically, supplying defensive weapons as part of a long-standing policy framework. China, which views Taiwan as part of its territory, has repeatedly warned against foreign military support for the island and has not ruled out the use of force.
The Trump administration previously approved a multibillion-dollar arms package for Taiwan that included advanced rocket systems, howitzers, and missile platforms, drawing sharp criticism from Beijing at the time.
Meanwhile, Taiwan’s leader Lai Ching-te said ties with Washington remain “rock solid,” adding that ongoing cooperation between the United States and the island continues despite tensions with Beijing.
