Trump and Xi Discuss Taiwan, Trade, and Ukraine in Recent Phone Call

Wed Nov 26 2025 04:43:47 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The leaders of the U.S. and China held a critical phone conversation focusing on key geopolitical issues including trade negotiations, Taiwan's status, and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, amidst rising tensions in the Asia-Pacific region.

In a significant diplomatic exchange, U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed several pressing issues over the phone. They touched on trade relations, Taiwan's importance to China, and the crisis in Ukraine. Xi emphasized Taiwan's integration into the post-war international framework, while Trump maintained a stance of strategic ambiguity regarding potential military involvement in Taiwan's defense amid rising regional tensions.

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping engaged in a phone conversation on Monday, discussing key geopolitical issues such as trade, Taiwan, and the Ukraine crisis. This dialogue occurred nearly a month after their in-person meeting in Busan, South Korea.

According to the Chinese foreign ministry, Xi affirmed that Taiwan is an integral part of the post-war international order, emphasizing China's position on the self-governing island. A White House official confirmed the phone call but did not provide specific details regarding the discussion.

The backdrop of this conversation includes recent statements from Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, suggesting that Japan would consider military involvement if China were to act against Taiwan. This stance has escalated tensions between China and Japan, leading to a notable dip in Sino-Japanese relations.

In their phone call, Xi reminded Trump of the historical context in which both nations worked together during the fight against fascism, urging collaboration to protect the outcomes of World War II. The U.S. maintains a neutral stance on Taiwan's sovereignty while opposing any use of force to effectively seize the island, underlining its commitment to provide defense support to Taiwan.

Earlier this month, the Taiwanese government announced the U.S. approval of a major arms sale, further straining relations between the U.S. and China, as Beijing labeled the sale a violation of the one-China principle. Chinese officials expressed strong opposition to the U.S. arms deal.

While they discussed trade, including potential agreements on American soybeans, specifics on these negotiations were not revealed by the Chinese officials. In summary, Xi remarked that the U.S.-China relationship had maintained a generally positive trajectory since their Busan meeting and called for continued efforts towards achieving more positive outcomes.

The conversation also touched on the situation in Ukraine, with Xi stating that the crisis needs resolution at its root. As the global landscape shifts, the diplomacy between these two major powers will be closely monitored in the coming weeks.