Xi Jinping to Donald Trump: US and China could clash if Taiwan issue not handled properly

JAKARTA - Chinese President Xi Jinping warned the United States that relations between the two countries could experience clashes and even conflicts if the Taiwan issue is not handled properly.

The Xinhuanews agency reported on Thursday (14/5) that Xi delivered the warning to US President Donald Trump during a banquet at the Great Hall of the People, Beijing.

"If handled properly, bilateral relations will enjoy overall stability. If not, both countries will experience clashes and even conflicts that endanger the entire relationship," Xi said as quoted by Antara from Anadolu.

He called Taiwan "the most important issue in China-US relations" and said that peace in the Taiwan Strait could not go hand in hand with Taiwan's independence.

According to Xi, maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is the second largest common interest of the two countries.

In addition to Taiwan, the two leaders also discussed the Middle East conflict, trade, and tariffs.

On Monday, Trump said he would discuss US support for Taiwan's defense with Xi.

According to a report by The New York Times, a bipartisan group of senators urged Trump to resume a $14 billion arms package for Taiwan that had been pending for months at the US State Department.

As Taiwan's main arms supplier, the US approved arms sales worth 11 billion US dollars last year, which triggered protests from Beijing.

China considers Taiwan a breakaway province, while Taiwan has maintained its position as an independent government since 1949.