President Xi Jinping warned President Trump on Thursday that mishandling the Taiwan issue could lead to direct military confrontation between the United States and China, according to a readout posted on X by Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning.
The warning came during a two-hour-and-15-minute closed-door session at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. The White House described the meeting simply as "good." Trump, speaking later at a state banquet, called the talks "great" and said China is "a beautiful, incredible place."
According to Chinese state media, Xi told Trump that "the Taiwan question is the most important issue in China-U.S. relations. 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." Xi also told Trump that "'Taiwan independence' and cross-Strait peace are as irreconcilable as fire and water. Safeguarding peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait is the biggest common denominator between China and the U.S."
Trump and Xi both ignored reporters' questions about whether Taiwan was discussed during the meeting. The White House readout of the meeting made no mention of Taiwan.
The summit's stated focus was stabilizing the two countries' trading relationship following last year's trade war, and also addressed uncertainty over the United States' ongoing conflict with Iran. The White House said that several American business executives joined for a portion of the broader bilateral meeting. Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, and outgoing Apple CEO Tim Cook were among those present at Thursday's welcoming ceremony, standing with Trump administration officials in the U.S. delegation. China is a critical market for all three companies, with Nvidia in particular seeking expanded access to sell advanced chips there.
The White House said the two sides discussed "ways to enhance economic cooperation between countries, including expanding market access for American businesses into China and increasing Chinese investment." Trump invited Xi and his wife to the White House for a reciprocal visit on September 24.
After the formal session, Trump and Xi visited Beijing's historic Temple of Heaven before attending the state banquet. At the banquet, Trump described the U.S.-China relationship as "one of the most consequential," according to Al Jazeera. Xi also spoke at the banquet about the importance of ties between the two nations.
The summit took place against a complicated backdrop, as reported by CBS News, with the two leaders navigating trade tensions, the Iran conflict, and the persistent flashpoint of Taiwan, which China considers its top priority in the bilateral relationship.
