Chinese President Xi Jinping warned Donald Trump against mishandling the issue of Taiwan during the U.S. president’s visit to Beijing, saying it could lead to tensions or even conflict between the two countries, according to Chinese state media.
If the Taiwan issue were handled poorly, it could place U.S.-China relations in a “very dangerous situation,” Xi said during talks in the Chinese capital, state news agency Xinhua reported on Thursday.
China claims that democratically governed Taiwan is its own territory.
Beijing has long feared the island could formally declare independence, although Taiwan’s government has not pursued such a move.
Independence and peace in the Taiwan Strait are incompatible, Xi said, referring to the waterway separating China and Taiwan.
Xi also said Taiwan was the most important issue in relations between Beijing and Washington and that handling it properly could help preserve stability between the two powers.
The U.S. plays a key role in the Taiwan issue, including through arms sales to the island amid strong objections from Beijing.
It was not immediately clear how Trump responded to Xi’s remarks.
At the start of talks in Beijing, Trump and Xi struck a notably conciliatory tone.
After a welcoming ceremony with military honours at the Great Hall of the People, Trump praised Xi as a “great leader” and said the United States and China had a “fantastic” shared future.
“Sometimes people don’t like me saying it, but I say it anyway because it’s true,” Trump said.
“It’s an honour to be your friend.”
Xi is due to host Trump at a state banquet in the evening.
