China Warns U.S. Over Taiwan Relations

WASHINGTON — On Thursday, China firmly expressed its opposition to U.S. engagement with Taiwan, following President Trump’s suggestion of potential talks with the Taiwanese leader.

During a discussion on Wednesday, Trump signaled the possibility of meeting with Taiwanese President Lai Ching-de while reflecting on a proposed $14 billion arms deal with the island.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun stated, “China’s stance against official exchanges between the U.S. and Taiwan, as well as arms sales to Taiwan, has always been clear and resolute.” He urged the U.S. to “approach the Taiwan issue with practical caution.”

Beijing has long maintained its claim of sovereignty over Taiwan, which operates with its own currency, military, and other traits of an independent nation. Chinese leader Xi Jinping has promised to integrate the island into China, even through force if necessary.

Under the U.S.’s “One China” policy, past administrations have acknowledged China’s claims but haven’t officially taken a side. Typically, American presidents avoid direct communication with Taiwan’s leaders to prevent straining relations with China. However, Trump has previously broken this norm, notably by accepting a call from then-President Tsai Ing-wen in December 2016, which drew ire from Beijing.

In responding to reporters about the arms sales, Trump remarked, “I’ll talk to you, [Lai]. I talk to everyone. We are fully aware of the situation.”

Lai, who took office as Taiwan’s president in January 2024, has spearheaded significant efforts to bolster the island’s defense in recent times.

After his trip to China last week, Trump referred to the arms deal as “a great bargaining chip for us” with Beijing, while also expressing dissatisfaction with Taiwan for allegedly “stealing our chip industry.” This comment sparked backlash from various Congress members, particularly Democrats.

Trump made history as the first U.S. president to visit China since 2017, spending two days meeting with President Xi. He has often highlighted his “great relationship” with the Chinese government.

The White House has been approached for comments regarding the matter.