Xi calls Trump to discuss Taiwan, trade and Ukraine
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The news: Chinese President Xi Jinping called US President Donald Trump and said Taiwan’s “return to China” is a key part of the post-war international order, Xinhua reported, as the two leaders discussed rising regional tensions and efforts to end the war in Ukraine.
According to a statement from China’s foreign ministry, Xi urged Trump to maintain the “positive momentum” from their October meeting in South Korea and said the two countries should “work together to safeguard the outcomes of World War Two.”
“Xi stressed that Taiwan's return to China is an important part of the post-war international order,” Xinhua said.
What they said: Donald Trump, in a social media post, confirmed the call and said other topics discussed included the war in Ukraine, “fentanyl, soybeans and other farm products.”
“This call was a follow up to our highly successful meeting in South Korea, three weeks ago,” he said. “Since then, there has been significant progress on both sides in keeping our agreements current and accurate.”
The president said he had accepted Xi’s invitation to China in April and that he had in turn invited the Chinese leader to the US “later in the year.”
The Wall Street Journal, citing people close to Beijing, reported that Xi initiated the call.
The context: The call comes as the US and China try to stabilise ties after reaching a trade truce in October, with Beijing resuming soybean purchases and Washington easing tariffs.
Talks continue over rare earths and critical minerals and Trump is weighing whether to allow AI chip sales to China. Earlier, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told Bloomberg a decision on advanced AI chip sales to China “sit right on the desk of Donald Trump.”
It also comes as regional tensions are rising after Japan’s new prime minister warned of a potential military response to a Chinese attack on Taiwan. The remarks that drew a sharp response from Beijing and triggered retaliatory trade and travel measures.
The sources: Xinhua, Donald Trump, The Wall Street Journal
