Xi Jinping on Thursday warned Donald Trump that mishandling the issue of Taiwan could push the United States and China into direct conflict.
The warning came during a high-profile summit in Beijing, where the two leaders met amid deepening trade disputes and geopolitical tensions between the world’s two largest economies.
Trump arrived in China praising Xi as a “great leader” and “friend,” while expressing optimism about future relations between both countries.
“We are going to have a fantastic future together,” Trump said during the ceremonial welcome.
However, Xi struck a more cautious tone during the talks held at the Great Hall of the People.
“The Taiwan question is the most important issue in China-US relations,” Xi said according to remarks released by Chinese state media.
“If mishandled, the two nations could collide or even come into conflict, pushing the entire China-US relationship into a highly perilous situation,” he added.
Taiwan remains one of the most sensitive issues in relations between Beijing and Washington, with China insisting the self-governed island is part of its territory.
The summit marked the first visit by a sitting US president to China in nearly a decade.
Trump received a grand state welcome featuring a military band, a 21-gun salute and cheering schoolchildren chanting “welcome” as he arrived in Beijing.
Despite the warm reception, major disagreements remain between both powers, particularly over trade policies, regional influence and global security.
Xi also referenced the “Thucydides Trap,” an ancient political theory suggesting conflict becomes more likely when a rising power challenges an established global power.
“Can China and the United States transcend the so-called ‘Thucydides Trap’ and forge a new paradigm for major-power relations?” Xi asked.
He added that “cooperation benefits both sides, while confrontation harms both.”
Relations between the two countries have deteriorated significantly since Trump’s previous visit to China in 2017, with both governments engaged in a prolonged trade war throughout 2025.
The talks lasted more than two hours as both leaders attempted to manage tensions while projecting stability before the international community.
