DID Press: A meeting between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping in Beijing opened with unusually warm remarks from the U.S. president, who praised Xi as a “great leader” and described bilateral ties as the “best relationship between any two presidents.”
Trump said past disputes between the two sides had been resolved quickly and expressed confidence that relations between Washington and Beijing would continue to improve. He also highlighted the presence of top U.S. business leaders in China, calling the economic ties “mutually beneficial” and describing the meeting as “perhaps the greatest in history.”
Xi Jinping, however, struck a firm tone on Taiwan, warning that any U.S. “miscalculation” on the issue could lead to confrontation. He described Taiwan as the most sensitive and critical issue in China–U.S. relations, stressing that stability depends on Washington’s handling of the matter.
Xi reiterated that “Taiwan independence is incompatible with peace” and cautioned that ignoring Beijing’s core concerns could escalate tensions or even trigger conflict.
The meeting comes at a time of heightened global attention on the trajectory of relations between the world’s two largest powers.