Key Points
- Xi Jinping raised the issue of Taiwan sovereignty in a call with Trump. Tensions are high after Japan’s PM suggested troops could aid Taiwan.
- Trump publicly focused on trade but privately reassured Japan’s leader.
- China is using rare earth minerals as leverage in trade negotiations.
- Trump plans to visit Beijing in April despite the growing diplomatic rift.
After ignoring the topic during their face-to-face meeting in South Korea last month, Chinese leader Xi Jinping put Taiwan back at the center of his discussions with President Donald Trump. During an hour-long phone call on Monday, Xi used a recent diplomatic fight with Japan to assert China’s claim over the island.
Xi framed his argument in historical terms, telling Trump that China’s control over Taiwan is a key part of the post-World War II order. He reminded Trump that their countries fought together against fascism, a comment clearly aimed at Japan’s military past.
This comes after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi angered Beijing on November 7 by suggesting that Japan’s troops could intervene if a crisis broke out in Taiwan. China responded quickly, imposing economic sanctions on Japan and trying to rally other nations against Tokyo at the UN.
Publicly, Trump ignored the geopolitical drama. His statement on the call focused entirely on trade, calling the relationship “extremely strong.” He is currently enjoying a truce that lowered tariffs and eased export controls. However, Trump’s actions tell a different story. Just hours after hanging up with Xi, he called Prime Minister Takaichi to brief her on the conversation and to reaffirm the US-Japan alliance.
Trump is walking a fine line. He has accepted an invitation to visit Beijing next April. He seems wary of upsetting the trade balance, especially since China controls the rare earth minerals the US needs for technology. He previously admitted that China has become an equal player, even calling their last summit a “G2 meeting.”
Despite Trump’s friendly rhetoric toward Xi, potential trouble lies ahead. The US recently approved a $330 million arms package for Taiwan. Additionally, Taiwanese officials are trying to arrange a stopover in the US for President Lai Ching-te.
While Trump’s cabinet insists they won’t trade away Taiwan’s security for a better economic deal, Xi is clearly testing how far he can push Washington to isolate Japan and distance itself from the island.
