The de facto governed island of Taiwan is central to China’s core interests and the foundation of the Washington-Beijing bilateral relationship, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said, ahead of US President Donald Trump’s planned visit to the East Asian country between May 14-15.
Speaking at a state press conference, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said in Beijing, “The Taiwan question is at the core of China’s core interests and the foundation of the political foundation of China-US relations.”
Lin reiterated that abiding by the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiqués, and honouring the commitments made by successive US administrations on the Taiwan question, are international obligations the US side must fulfil, the state-run mouthpiece of the Chinese Communist Party (CPC), Global Times, reported. The paper noted that Lin has referenced Taiwan as a “necessary prerequisite for the stable, sound, and sustainable development of China-US relations.”
The Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs was responding to a question from a reporter about whether the Taiwan question was China’s concern ahead of the US President Donald Trump’s visit to China.
Trump-Xi’s Pivotal Summit
US President Donald Trump is set to arrive in the Chinese capital this week for a pivotal summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, a meeting that officials from both nations have claimed is aimed at maintaining “stability,” despite mounting flashpoints.
The high-stakes visit comes as the world’s two largest economies grapple with escalating tensions over the US-Taiwan arms deal, ongoing trade disputes, and China’s influential role in mediating the energy crisis in the Strait of Hormuz.
The Trump administration approved a record $11 billion in arms sales to Taiwan last year, prompting criticism from Beijing, which responded by placing sanctions on several US arms firms. Taiwan received the last shipment of its 108-tank fleet purchased from the US, worth $1.28 billion, last month at Taipei Port.
The delivery marks the conclusion of a multi-year deal worth approximately $1.28 billion (NT$40.52 billion), first initiated in 2019. The M1A2T Abrams tanks, a customised variant specifically for Taiwan, are intended to replace ageing equipment and bolster the defence of the island’s northern regions.
The last 28 tanks arrived late on April 26, and were transported via civilian flatbed trailers under military escort to Taiwan’s Armoured Training Command in Hsinchu County.
While Beijing has struck a cautious, optimistic tone regarding the framework of the visit, diplomats warn that the underlying friction over Taiwan’s sovereignty remains a “red line” that could overshadow any progress on economic cooperation.
The summit, scheduled for mid-May, represents the first face-to-face encounter between the two leaders in over a year.
Pursuing A Path of Stability
US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, speaking about Trump’s upcoming visit, said that the administration is pursuing a “path of stability” and is actively seeking to avoid a full-scale trade war while simultaneously protecting American intellectual property and domestic industries.
The analysts predict that the meeting will likely expose the deep-seated dysfunctions of a bilateral relationship characterised by mutual suspicion and competing global visions.
Taiwan Sovereignty Dominates Pre-Summit Rhetoric
The primary shadow loitering over the Great Hall of the People is the status of Taiwan. Just days before the visit, Beijing has issued a stern warning to Washington, reiterating that the island remains “central to China’s core interests”.
This diplomatic posture immediately follows Taiwan and the US inking an estimated $6.6 billion in new arms procurement deals, a move China views as a direct violation of previous agreements and a provocation of its territorial integrity.
“We urge the US side to handle Taiwan-related issues with extreme caution to avoid further damaging China-US relations and peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait,” a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson asserted in the press briefing.
Despite these warnings, US senators visiting the region have reaffirmed their support for Taiwan’s defence, creating a complex legislative backdrop for Trump’s personal diplomacy. Chinese state media has pushed back against this “interference,” arguing that US domestic politics should not dictate the trajectory of international ties.
The Hormuz Factor
Beyond regional territorial disputes, the summit is expected to delve into the volatile situation in the Middle East and the economic implications of the war in Iran. China recently stepped up its diplomatic engagement with Iran, with Foreign Minister Wang Yi meeting with Iranian officials to discuss the ongoing blockade in the Strait of Hormuz.
As a major consumer of Iranian and Gulf oil, Beijing has a vested interest in reopening the shipping lanes, a goal that aligns, albeit for different reasons, with the Trump administration’s energy agenda.
The US is looking to China to use its significant economic leverage over Tehran to de-escalate the naval standoff. While China officially opposes unilateral US sanctions, it has expressed a willingness to facilitate “constructive dialogue” to ensure the free flow of global energy supplies.
This overlapping interest has provided a rare opening for a “grand bargain” during the Beijing talks, though scepticism remains high regarding whether China will truly pressure its strategic partner in Tehran to suit “American interests.”
The “Dysfunctional Duo”
Economically, the stakes could not be higher for the global market as the Trump administration continues to push for a rebalancing of trade, eyeing further tariffs if Beijing does not increase its purchase of American goods.
Conversely, China is seeking relief from existing tech restrictions that have hampered its semiconductor industry. Financial experts in the US suggest that while both leaders may find common ground on small-scale agricultural deals, the structural “decoupling” of their tech sectors is likely to continue unabated.
Observers note that both Trump and Xi are currently navigating domestic pressures, Trump with his focus on “America First” industrial policy and Xi with a slowing Chinese economy that requires external stability to recover. This mutual need for a “calm period” may lead to a communiqué that emphasises cooperation.
However, experts at agencies have noted that the fundamental competition for global hegemony remains the defining feature of the 21st century and it is unlikely that the Trump-Xi “dysfunctional duo” can find a way to coexist.
