Xi Jinping warned that Donald Trump’s mishandling of Taiwan could push the US and China into conflict
Xi Jinping issued a stark warning to Donald Trump during high-stakes talks in Beijing, cautioning that the United States and China could “come into conflict” if tensions surrounding Taiwan are mishandled.
The dramatic remarks came during a closely watched summit between the two world leaders at the Great Hall of the People, where discussions focused on trade tensions, artificial intelligence, Taiwan and the growing war involving Iran. Security across Beijing was heavily tightened ahead of the meeting as global attention turned towards the increasingly fragile relationship between the world’s two largest powers.
According to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV, Xi described Taiwan as “the most important issue in China-US relations” and warned that any mistakes over the self-ruled island could drive the two nations towards a dangerous confrontation.
“If mishandled, the two nations could collide or even come into conflict,” Xi reportedly told Trump, adding that it could push the entire relationship into “a highly perilous situation”.
Chinese state news agency Xinhua also quoted Xi warning that poor handling of Taiwan would place China-US relations in “a very dangerous place”.
The summit lasted roughly two hours behind closed doors, although neither side immediately released a detailed official summary afterwards. The absence of a White House readout fuelled speculation about how tense the discussions may have become inside the meeting room.
Despite the warning, both leaders publicly attempted to present a more positive tone during opening remarks. Trump praised Xi repeatedly during the welcome ceremony, describing him as “a great leader” and saying it was “an honour to be your friend”.
Xi, however, struck a far more serious tone. He urged both nations to avoid falling into what he described as the “Thucydides Trap”, a phrase commonly used in international relations to describe the risk of war when a rising power challenges an established global power.
Referencing the ancient conflict between Athens and Sparta described by Greek historian Thucydides, Xi suggested history was now testing whether China and the United States could avoid repeating the mistakes of past empires.
“The world is at a crossroads,” Xi reportedly said, describing a period marked by “turbulence and uncertainty”. He argued the key question facing both countries was whether they could work together to stabilise global affairs rather than deepen divisions.
Taiwan remains one of the most dangerous flashpoints between Washington and Beijing. China views the democratically governed island as part of its territory and has repeatedly warned against foreign interference. Meanwhile, the United States continues supporting Taiwan militarily and politically, further inflaming tensions with Beijing.
During the summit, Taiwan reportedly said Washington had “reaffirmed its clear and firm support” for the island, a statement likely to intensify China’s concerns further.
The talks unfolded against a backdrop of mounting global instability. Alongside Taiwan, discussions also covered the continuing US-China trade war, the rapidly escalating conflict involving Iran and growing competition over artificial intelligence technology.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly said Washington would pressure Beijing to take a more active role in helping address the Iran crisis. China, meanwhile, hopes the summit could stabilise trade relations and ease tensions damaging both economies.
Financial markets reacted nervously throughout the day. Asian stock markets delivered mixed results while oil prices remained elevated amid fears surrounding instability in the Middle East and uncertainty over the summit’s outcome.
Although both sides attempted to project calm diplomacy publicly, Xi’s warning over Taiwan underscored the reality hanging over the summit.
Behind the ceremonial handshakes and diplomatic language lies an increasingly dangerous struggle between two superpowers whose rivalry now threatens global stability itself.