Thursday, February 5, 2026-Chinese President Xi Jinping and President Donald Trump engaged in a lengthy and wide‑ranging phone call, during which Xi emphasized that Taiwan remains the most important issue in China–U.S. relations and urged Washington to be cautious about arms sales and military support for the self‑governing island.
China regards Taiwan as part of its territory and has repeatedly warned that such support risks destabilizing the region. Taiwan’s president, Lai Ching‑te, responded by describing Taiwan‑U.S. ties as “rock solid,” saying cooperation would continue without change despite Beijing’s pressure.
Trump described the phone call which also covered trade, Iran, and the Russia‑Ukraine war as “very positive,” highlighting the importance of stable relations between the world’s two largest economies. He noted ongoing discussions about economic issues, including soybean exports and potential future cooperation. Both leaders are navigating tensions amid U.S. military support for Taiwan and China’s firm opposition to such policies.
Xi’s direct push on Taiwan underscores Beijing’s insistence that the issue is nonnegotiable and central to bilateral ties, pressing Trump to handle the matter with “prudence” in light of recent large U.S. arms sales to Taipei. At the same time, Trump continues to assert strong bilateral relations and plans a future visit to Beijing, even as strategic competition and security concerns persist around the Taiwan Strait and broader Indo‑Pacific region.
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