BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Wednesday that Taiwan will never be allowed to separate from China and that the United States must handle arms sales to Taiwan with caution, stressing that the Taiwan question is the most important issue in China-U.S. relations.
Xi made the remarks during a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump, saying that he hopes to work with Trump in the new year to steer the giant ship of China-U.S. relations steadily forward through wind and storms, and accomplish more big things and good things.
Xi noted that he attaches great importance to China-U.S. relations, adding that over the past year, he and Trump have enjoyed sound communication and had a successful meeting in Busan, which charted the direction and course for bilateral ties and was welcomed by the people of both countries and the broader international community.
Just as the United States has its concerns, China for its part also has concerns, Xi said, noting that China always means what it says and matches its words with actions and results. If the two sides work in the same direction in the spirit of equality, respect and mutual benefit, they can surely find ways to address each other’s concerns.
Xi said that both China and the United States have important items on their agenda this year, with China set to kick off its 15th Five-Year Plan and the United States marking the 250th anniversary of its independence. China will host the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting, while the United States will host the G20 Summit.
The two sides should follow the common understandings they have reached, enhance dialogue and communication, manage differences properly, and expand practical cooperation, Xi said, adding that it is always right to do a good thing, however small, and always wrong to do a bad thing, however small. He stressed that the two countries should make progress step by step to build mutual trust, find the right way to get along, and make 2026 a year where the two major countries advance toward mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation.
Emphasizing that Taiwan is China’s territory, Xi said China must safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity and will never allow Taiwan to be separated. He added that the United States must handle the issue of arms sales to Taiwan with prudence.
For his part, Trump said that both the United States and China are great countries and that the U.S.-China relationship is by far the most important in the world. He said he has a great relationship with Xi and a lot of respect for him, noting that under their leadership, the two countries are doing well in fields such as economy and trade.
Trump said he wants to see China succeed and that the United States would like to work with China to make more progress in bilateral ties. He added that he understands how China feels about the Taiwan question and expressed willingness to continue dialogue to keep the U.S.-China relationship in good shape during his presidency.
