President Donald Trump has warned China against supplying arms to Iran, as the two leaders met in Beijing for a crucial summit. The warning came amid discussions on trade, technology, and Taiwan, with few breakthroughs expected on divisive issues.
Trump hopes to focus the summit on trade deals, including Chinese purchases of agricultural products and passenger planes, and setting up a board to address differences. However, the Iran war is also a key topic, with Trump urging China to use its leverage to prod Iran to agree to US terms to end the conflict.
In their closed-door meeting, Chinese President Xi Jinping warned Trump that mishandling Taiwan could lead to 'clashes and even conflicts'. Xi stated that if Taiwan is handled well, US-China relations will enjoy overall stability, but if not, the relationship could be in great jeopardy.
Trump authorised an $11 billion arms package for Taiwan in December, but delivery has not yet moved forward. Xi emphasised that 'Taiwan independence' and cross-strait peace are irreconcilable, calling the issue the most important in bilateral ties.
Taiwan's Ministry of Affairs responded to Xi's warning, stating that China is the only risk to regional peace and stability, and accused Beijing of continuing military harassment during the summit.
Despite tensions, both leaders expressed optimism about the relationship. Trump described his talks with Xi as 'extremely positive', while Xi called for the two countries to work together as partners rather than rivals.
