Xi warns Trump over Taiwan as US-China Summit opens in Beijing

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday warned US President Donald Trump that any mistake over Taiwan could push both nations toward conflict as the two leaders opened high-level talks in Beijing.

Speaking during their meeting at the Great Hall of the People, Xi stressed that “The Taiwan question is the most important issue in China-US relations,” adding that, “If mishandled, the two nations could collide or even come into conflict, pushing the entire China-US relationship into a highly perilous situation.”

Trump, who arrived in China for the first visit by a sitting US president in nearly a decade, praised Xi ahead of the talks, describing him as a “great leader” and “friend” while expressing optimism that both countries would have “a fantastic future together.”

Despite the warm reception that featured a red-carpet ceremony, military honours and cheering schoolchildren, Xi maintained a cautious tone, saying the United States and China “should be partners and not rivals.”

The Chinese leader also referenced the ancient Greek concept known as the “Thucydides Trap,” warning about the dangers that can arise when an emerging global power challenges an established one.

“Cooperation benefits both sides, while confrontation harms both,” Xi said, as tensions continue over trade disputes, Taiwan and wider geopolitical rivalry between Washington and Beijing.

Although both leaders projected optimism publicly, the summit comes amid unresolved disagreements that have strained relations between the world’s two largest economies throughout 2025.