Chinese President Xi Jinping told U.S. President Donald Trump during a phone conversation that the Taiwan issue is "the most important problem" in China-U.S. relations. He urged the U.S. side to exercise caution in supplying arms to Taiwan. Trump revealed that the discussion went excellently and hinted that China plans to increase its soybean import quota from the U.S. to 20 million tons.
Chinese President Xi Jinping held a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday, 4 Feb 2024 GMT+7, emphasizing that the Taiwan issue is "the most important" in China-U.S. relations. He called on the U.S. to act "carefully" regarding arms deliveries to Taiwan.
China’s official Xinhua News Agency reported that Xi told Trump Taiwan is Chinese territory and China must protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity. "The U.S. must handle arms sales to Taiwan with caution," he stressed. He added that China highly values its relationship with the U.S. and hopes both sides can resolve conflicts through mutual equality and respect.
U.S. President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that the lengthy conversation covered all topics. He described the relationship as "excellent" and said he looks forward to visiting China in April.
Trump also revealed positive economic news: China is considering increasing soybean purchases from the U.S. to 20 million tons from the current 12 million tons. Additionally, the two leaders discussed key global issues including the Russia-Ukraine war, the situation in Iran, fentanyl problems, and the possibility of China buying more oil and natural gas from the U.S.
This development follows the Trump administration’s approval of a major arms sale to Taiwan in December, valued at about $11 billion (approximately 350 billion baht). The package included advanced rocket systems, artillery, and various missiles. At that time, China condemned the support for "Taiwan independence," warning it would push the Taiwan Strait situation toward a dangerous and volatile point.
However, Xi Jinping said during this conversation, "China also has concerns, just as the U.S. has concerns on various issues. If both sides work in the same direction, we will certainly find solutions to each other's concerns."
Interestingly, just hours before the talks with Trump, Xi Jinping held a video conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Both leaders praised the strong cooperation between China and Russia, a diplomatic move attracting close global attention.
/BBC