US Should Act Prudently on Arms Supplies to Taiwan, Xi Tells Trump

According to Rokna, citing The Guardian, Xi urged Trump to act with “prudence” in supplying weapons to the island, according to Chinese state media, adding that he “attaches great importance” to relations with Washington and hopes both sides can find ways to resolve their differences.

Trump described the call as “excellent” and “long and thorough.”

The conversation came after a series of recent visits to China by Western leaders, including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, as efforts continue to reset ties with the world’s second-largest economy.

Trump is scheduled to visit China in April, a trip he said he is “very much looking forward to.” He also noted that Beijing is considering purchasing 20 million tonnes of US soybeans, an increase from the current 12 million tonnes.

“The relationship with China, and my personal relationship with President Xi, is an extremely good one, and we both understand how important it is to maintain it,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.

According to Trump and China’s foreign ministry, the two leaders last spoke by phone in November, discussing a range of issues including trade, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, fentanyl and Taiwan.

In addition to Taiwan and soybeans, Trump said Wednesday’s call also covered Russia’s war in Ukraine, the situation in Iran, and China’s purchases of US oil and gas.

On Taiwan, Xi reiterated that the self-governed island is “China’s territory” and said Beijing “must safeguard [Taiwan’s] sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

“The United States must approach the issue of arms sales to Taiwan with caution,” Xi warned, according to the state-run Xinhua news agency.

China has long pledged to “reunify” with Taiwan and has not ruled out the use of force to achieve that goal.

The United States maintains formal diplomatic relations with Beijing rather than Taipei and has carefully balanced its policy for decades. Nevertheless, Washington remains a key ally of Taiwan and its largest arms supplier.

In December, the Trump administration announced an arms package for Taiwan valued at approximately $11bn (£8.2bn), including advanced rocket launch systems, self-propelled howitzers and various missiles.

At the time, Beijing said the move, which it described as an effort to support Taiwan’s independence, would “accelerate the push toward a dangerous and violent situation across the Taiwan Strait.”

“Just as the United States has its own concerns, China also has concerns,” Xi told Trump on Wednesday.

“If both sides move forward in the same direction, guided by equality, respect and mutual benefit, we can certainly find ways to address each other’s concerns,” he said.

Hours before speaking with Trump, Xi held a virtual meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which both leaders praised the deepening ties between Beijing and Moscow.