China’s Xi calls for ‘mutual respect’ in Trump call and issues Taiwan warning
Sign up now: Get insights on Asia's fast-moving developments
US President Donald Trump (left) and Chinese President Xi Jinping meeting on the sidelines of the APEC summit in South Korea in October.
PHOTO: REUTERS
- Xi Jinping urged "mutual respect" in US relations in a phone call with Trump, warning against Taiwan arms sales.
- Trump described ties with China and his relationship with Xi as "extremely good," mentioning trade, Taiwan and Ukraine discussions.
- Xi hopes for amicable resolution of bilateral issues, aiming for mutual respect, coexistence, and cooperation between China and the US.
AI generated
BEIJING – Chinese leader Xi Jinping called on Feb 4 for “mutual respect” in strengthening relations with the US, while warning President Donald Trump in a phone call to exercise “caution” when selling arms to Taiwan, Beijing’s state media reported.
Mr Xi expressed the hope that bilateral issues – among which trade features highly – could be resolved amicably between the world’s two largest economies.
“By tackling issues one by one and continuously building mutual trust, we can forge the right way for the two countries to get along,” he said, according to state broadcaster CCTV.
“Let us make 2026 a year in which China and the United States, as two major countries, move towards mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation,” he added.
Mr Trump, in a post on his Truth Social platform following what he called an “excellent” call, said ties between the two countries were “extremely good”.
“The relationship with China, and my personal relationship with President Xi, is an extremely good one, and we both realise how important it is to keep it that way,” he said.
Mr Trump said they discussed trade, Taiwan, the Russian war against Ukraine, and Iran, as well as a planned trip to China, which he said he “very much looks forward to”.
On Taiwan, however, Mr Xi warned Washington to exercise caution in arms sales to the democratically run island, which Beijing claims as its own territory.
“The Taiwan question is the most important issue in China-US relations... The US must handle arms sales to Taiwan with caution,” he said, according to state broadcaster CCTV.
China’s Communist Party has never ruled democratic Taiwan, but Beijing claims the island of 23 million people is part of its territory and has not ruled out the use of force to annex it.
Washington does not officially recognise Taiwan, but is the island territory’s main military backer – although the tone of that support has softened slightly under Mr Trump.
The US approved US$11 billion-worth (S$14 billion) of arms to Taiwan
Shortly thereafter, China launched major live-fire drills simulating a blockade
