Xi tells Trump Taiwan is ‘most important’ issue in China-US ties in phone call
Last Updated on February 4, 2026 10:39 pm
By Khushboo Razdan in Washington
China’s leader Xi Jinping held a phone call with US President Donald Trump on Wednesday, state media said, hours after a video conversation between Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
According to the Chinese readout, Xi told Trump that the Taiwan question is the “most important” issue in China-US relations, stressing that the island is Chinese territory and that Beijing will never allow it to be separated.
Xi said China must safeguard its national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and urged Washington to handle arms sales to Taiwan with “extreme caution”.
Trump, for his part, said he values China’s concerns on Taiwan and is willing to maintain communication with Beijing to keep bilateral ties stable, the readout added.
Beijing sees Taiwan as part of China to be reunited by force if necessary. Most countries, including the US, do not recognise Taiwan as an independent state, but Washington is opposed to any attempt to take the self-governed island by force and is committed to supplying it with weapons.
Trump described the US-China relationship as the world’s most important bilateral relationship, said he respects Xi, and expressed readiness to work with China to ensure the relationship remains “positive and stable” during his term.
Source :SCMP