China has issued an stark warning to the US should Donald Trump not back its plans to make Taiwan part of the People’s Republic of China (PRC).
Donald Trump is currently visiting Beijing, in what is being described as his first trip to the country in nearly a decade.
He was greeted by Chinese President Xi Jinping with a warm reception. Although Trump didn’t get the “big hug” he had reportedly hoped for, he did receive a handshake and took part in an elaborate welcome ceremony.
The two leaders began their talks by exchanging compliments, focusing in particular on each other’s style of leadership.
“You’re a great leader,” Trump told Xi, adding: “Sometimes people don’t like me saying it, but I say it anyway, because it’s true.”
“It’s an honor to be with you. It’s an honor to be your friend,” he went on, before promising that ‘the relationship between China and the USA is going to be better than ever before’.
However, the cordial tone was quickly followed by a serious message, with Trump reportedly being warned that ties between the two countries could deteriorate if the US does not align itself with China’s position on Taiwan.
Taiwan governs itself, but Xi maintains that it is part of the PRC and has long argued that it should be brought under the same national banner as mainland China.
Despite operating in many ways as an independent state, Taiwan’s diplomatic recognition around the world remains complicated and highly contested.
The United States continues to take a cautious approach. While Washington does not formally recognize Taiwan as an independent nation, it also has not backed the idea of China using force to take control of the island.
At the same time, the Trump administration has approved an $11 billion weapons package for Taiwan, though it has not yet been delivered. Beijing has made clear it is unhappy about the proposal.
Xi said of the huge political issue (per The Guardian): “The Taiwan question is the most important issue in China-US relations.”
“If mishandled, the two nations could collide or even come into conflict, pushing the entire China-US relationship into a highly perilous situation,” he went on to warn.
China’s state-run agency Xinhua also reported Xi telling Trump that mismanaging the Taiwan matter could lead to a clash—or even conflict—placing China-US relations in ‘a very dangerous place’.