Chinese President Chi Jinping today warned his US counterpart Donald Trump that their two countries could engage in “conflict” if Washington mishandles the Taiwan issue.
“The Taiwan issue is the most important one in Sino-American relations. If it is handled well, relations between the two countries” will remain “stable overall”. But “if it is handled badly, the two countries will confront each other” and could even “engage in conflict”, he said. Xi, using a word in Mandarin that, however, does not necessarily mean armed conflict.
Chinese President Chi Jinping received his US counterpart Donald Trump with great honours in Beijing today, as part of the Republican’s official visit to China.
Mr. Xi shook Mr. Trump’s hand in front of the steps of the People’s Palace, the center of state power in the heart of the vast Tiananmen Square, decorated in the colors of the two countries’ national symbols.
Partners, not rivals
He said he was “happy” to receive the US president, to whom he stressed that the two superpowers should be “partners, not rivals” despite their differences.
“Cooperation benefits both parties, while conflict hurts both. We ought to be partners, not adversaries, we should help each other to succeed, to prosper together, thus forging a new path, of understanding between great powers in this new era,” Mr Xi told Mr Trump, adding thatthe world was at a “crossroads”.
For his part, Donald Trump promised Xi Jinping “a wonderful future” in the relationship between the US and China as the summit of the two great powers began against the backdrop of their multiple disputes and heightened international tensions.
“It is an honor to be with you. It’s an honour to be your friend, and the relationship between China and the US will be better than ever,” Mr Trump said. “Together we will have a great future”, the Republican exulted.
Ormuz: Rubio wants China to “help”
The US government is counting on China’s input to break the deadlock over Hormuz Strait, according to US diplomatic chief Marco Rubio.
“We hope to persuade them to play a more active role so that Iran stops what it is doing now and trying to do in the Persian Gulf,” Secretary of State Rubio told a Fox News camera on board the presidential aircraft en route to China as he accompanied Donald Trump on his official visit to the world’s second economy. A multi-member U.S. delegation arrived in Beijing yesterday.
His secretary of state argued that China has “many” reasons to want to resolve the crisis in the Strait, which is virtually impassable, recalling that there are also Chinese ships blockaded in the Gulf.
The statements by the secretary – who is also a national security adviser – on the face of it contradict what President Trump said. Asked about it, the Republican said that “I don’t think we need help” from China to end the war.
Beijing is among Tehran’s most important trading and strategic partners and is the importer of the largest amount of Iranian crude exported.
