A long-anticipated meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping took place on Thursday morning in Beijing. According to China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during the first day of talks held at the Great Hall of the People, President Xi emphasized that the Taiwan issue is the most important factor in China–U.S. relations.
“The Taiwan issue is the most important in China–U.S. relations. If it is handled well, bilateral relations will remain stable. Otherwise, it could lead to confrontation and conflict between the two countries, posing risks to the overall relationship,” the ministry quoted Xi as saying.
China considers Taiwan an inseparable part of its territory. The United States has, at various times, expressed commitment to the One China policy, but it continues to provide Taiwan with weapons and military support. This assistance is provided under the Taiwan Relations Act passed by the U.S. Congress in 1979. Critics describe this as America’s “strategic ambiguity.”
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that there has been no change in the U.S. position on Taiwan. “China always raises this issue, and we always clarify our stance. From our perspective, any forced change to the status quo would be harmful to both countries,” Rubio told NBC News in Beijing. “We have sold weapons to Taiwan in the past, and that continued until as recently as December, which disappointed China. These are decisions made by the President and Congress. Congress decides what actions to take, and we respond accordingly.”
After the meeting, Xi and Trump visited the Temple of Heaven in Beijing, where Xi explained Chinese philosophy and the role of the Communist Party in preserving it. He noted that the 600-year-old temple was historically used by Chinese rulers to pray for national prosperity, peace, and favorable weather.
“The Communist Party of China has embraced and developed a people-centered philosophy and Chinese civilization,” a Chinese government statement quoted Xi as saying. Xi often highlights China’s history and cultural heritage in meetings with global leaders, which plays a significant role in promoting the Party’s governance model and resisting Western pressure.
Xi also stated that China’s transformation and Trump’s “Make America Great Again” policy could move forward together. In response, Trump thanked Xi for the warm welcome and acknowledged the contributions of Chinese people to early American development. “Chinese people love basketball and wear blue jeans,” Trump said, adding that Americans and Chinese share many similarities.
The two leaders are expected to meet again on Friday, where discussions and possible agreements on issues such as the Iran conflict, trade, technology, and agricultural imports and exports are anticipated.
U.S. business executives are excited
American business leaders accompanying Trump expressed optimism about strengthening ties with China. Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said he hopes to achieve many positive outcomes in China. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang praised Chinese officials for their excellent conduct.
Major U.S. technology firms and manufacturers depend heavily on China for imports and exports. China holds 90% of the world’s processed rare earth minerals, and 60–70% of these minerals are mined there. About 70% of rare earth imports to the U.S. come from China. These materials are essential for producing everything from smartphones to fighter jets.
Last year, China tightened export controls on 7 out of 12 key rare earth metals, which reduced production capacity in U.S. and Western industries. However, after a meeting between Trump and Xi in Busan, South Korea, in October, these restrictions were eased.
Musk expects to purchase solar panel equipment worth $2.9 billion from China. China is also a crucial market for Tesla’s electric vehicles. Upon arriving in Beijing on Wednesday, Trump stated that all the business leaders accompanying him respect China.
Prominent executives on the trip include Apple CEO Tim Cook, Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, Citi CEO Jane Fraser, Blackstone CEO Stephen Schwarzman, and Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg. Representatives from companies such as Meta, Cargill, Visa, Cisco, Qualcomm, Coherent, Micron, Illumina, GE Aerospace, and Mastercard are also part of the visit. These companies are seeking investment opportunities in China, while Chinese firms are hoping for easier access to invest in the U.S. market.
