Chinese President Xi Jinping has directly pressed US President Donald Trump on the sensitive issue of Taiwan, urging his American counterpart to uphold the foundational One-China principle. This high-stakes diplomatic exchange comes as a separate, escalating dispute between China and Japan over Taiwan's status threatens to inject fresh tensions into the recently stabilized relationship between Washington and Beijing.
Diplomatic Pressure and Post-War Order
According to a readout from the Chinese Foreign Ministry, President Xi told President Trump that the return of Taiwan to China is an indispensable component of the post-World War II international order. The Chinese leader emphasized this point during their conversation, reinforcing Beijing's long-standing position that the island is an inalienable part of Chinese territory.
Beyond the Taiwan issue, Xi expressed a desire to maintain the positive momentum generated during their face-to-face meeting in Busan, South Korea, in October 2025. He suggested the two global powers should seek to expand their areas of cooperation, indicating a willingness to build on recent progress.
The leaders also discussed the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, with Xi voicing hope that the warring sides could reach a binding peace agreement. The White House had not issued an immediate public comment on the call's contents at the time of the report.
Japan-China Row Complicates US Relations
Simmering tensions between China and Japan now pose a significant risk to the delicate Trump-Xi dynamic. The friction began when new Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated that a hypothetical Chinese attack on Taiwan could trigger a military response from Tokyo. Beijing, which views any foreign intervention on Taiwan as a red line, reacted with fury.
China has taken a series of retaliatory measures, including issuing a no-travel advisory for Japan, suspending the screening of some Japanese films, and imposing a ban on Japanese seafood imports. The situation has escalated militarily, with both nations increasing drills; China announced patrols in the East China Sea, and Japan revealed plans to deploy missiles to an area near Taiwan.
Trade Truce and Economic Stakes
This geopolitical friction arrives just as the world's two largest economies were enjoying a thaw in trade relations. In October, the US and China reached a truce that saw Washington lower tariffs on Chinese goods and Beijing agree to remove certain restrictions on the export of rare earths.
However, key details regarding the sale of these critical minerals remain unresolved. The two nations are still negotiating terms for "general licenses" for US-bound exports of rare earths and critical minerals, with a deadline to agree by the end of the month. These materials are vital for manufacturing high-tech electronics, and shortfalls could disrupt global industries, including automotive, consumer goods, and robotics.
When questioned by CBS News' 60 Minutes on November 2 about whether US forces would defend Taiwan from a Chinese attack, President Trump responded that Xi "understands the answer to that." He noted the subject did not arise during their October meeting. Any significant flare-up between the US and China, potentially fueled by the Japan dispute, could reintroduce uncertainty for global markets and business leaders who had welcomed the recent de-escalation.
