US-China relations depend on Taiwan, Xi Jinping warns Donald Trump

{"text":[[{"start":13.25,"text":"Xi Jinping has warned Donald Trump that the “Taiwan question” is critical to US-China relations, adding that it could lead to “conflict” if badly managed as the two opened a high-stakes summit in Beijing."}],[{"start":25.45,"text":"During a two-hour meeting on Thursday in the first visit by a US president to China in nine years, Xi also praised progress in trade talks and said there would be “no winners” in a tariff war."}],[{"start":37.3,"text":"Speaking in the Great Hall of the People, Xi sought to impress upon Trump how seriously China’s Communist Party government regarded its claims over Taiwan. "}],[{"start":47.55,"text":"“The Taiwan question is the most important issue in China-US relations,” said Xi, according to state news agency Xinhua. “If mishandled, the two countries could face confrontation or even conflict, pushing the entire China-US relationship into a highly dangerous situation.” "}],[{"start":63.849999999999994,"text":"China claims sovereignty over Taiwan and has threatened to take control of it by force if Taipei resists indefinitely. "}],[{"start":71.3,"text":"In response to Xi’s comments, Taiwan’s foreign ministry said that Beijing “is the sole risk to regional peace and stability” and that Taiwan would continue to co-operate with the US and other countries that uphold freedom and democracy."}],[{"start":null,"text":"

"}],[{"start":null,"text":""}],[{"start":86.35,"text":"Some government officials and analysts have expressed fear that the Chinese leader might extract concessions on Taiwan in exchange for help with other issues, such as putting pressure on Iran to come to a deal to open the Strait of Hormuz. "}],[{"start":100.94999999999999,"text":"In particular, there is concern among US allies that Trump might reduce arms sales to Taipei or even change the US diplomatic posture to “oppose” independence for Taiwan rather than the current stance of not supporting it."}],[{"start":115.19999999999999,"text":"The Trump administration last year approved a record $11.1bn in arms sales for Taiwan, eclipsing the $8.4bn provided by former president Joe Biden, according to the US-Taiwan Business Council. It is also compiling another package expected to be worth at least $14bn."}],[{"start":134.79999999999998,"text":"William Yang, a senior analyst at International Crisis Group, said fears among US allies over its stance on Taiwan have been exacerbated by the fact that American military attention in Asia has been diluted by the Middle East conflict."}],[{"start":148.6,"text":"In other remarks, Xi said the two countries’ economic and trade teams had “reached a generally balanced and positive outcome, which is good news for the people of both countries and for the world” during talks on Wednesday."}],[{"start":161.35,"text":"He did not provide further details but said both “sides should work together to maintain the hard-won positive momentum”, according to Xinhua."}],[{"start":169.5,"text":"Xi and Trump agreed to a truce in their trade war in October, after both sides last year raised tariffs to more than 100 per cent and China imposed export controls on rare earths crucial to US manufacturing. "}],[{"start":184.15,"text":"The tough comments on Taiwan followed warm opening remarks, with Xi saying the US and China needed to be “partners, not rivals”, while the American president assured him the relationship was “going to be better than ever before”."}],[{"start":198,"text":"Trump also praised the countries’ “fantastic relationship” and called Xi “a great leader” before mentioning the delegation of US chief executives accompanying him on the trip, including Apple’s Tim Cook, Nvidia’s Jensen Huang, Tesla’s Elon Musk and Citigroup’s Jane Fraser."}],[{"start":215.9,"text":"“We have the greatest businessmen in the world . . . and they’re here today to pay respect to you, to China.”"}],[{"start":null,"text":""}],[{"start":null,"text":""}],[{"start":223.20000000000002,"text":"A White House official said the meeting between Trump and Xi had been “good” and the leaders discussed ways to boost “economic co-operation”, including greater access to the Chinese market for US companies and more Chinese investment in America."}],[{"start":238.20000000000002,"text":"On Iran, the US and China agreed that the Strait of Hormuz should be open and Xi opposed the “militarisation” of the waterway and charging of tolls for passage, according to the White House. He also expressed “interest” in greater Chinese purchases of US oil."}],[{"start":255.85000000000002,"text":"After their bilateral talks, Trump and Xi visited the Temple of Heaven, a vast Ming Dynasty park in Beijing, on Thursday. Xi is due to host a state banquet later for Trump, who is also being accompanied by his son Eric."}],[{"start":269.55,"text":"On Friday, Trump will have tea with the Chinese leader followed by a working lunch before returning to the US."}],[{"start":276.5,"text":"State TV earlier showed Xi descending the red-carpeted stairs of the Great Hall of the People in Tiananmen Square to welcome Trump, who arrived in a presidential convoy of black vehicles escorted by an arrow-shaped formation of Chinese police motorcycles."}],[{"start":291.2,"text":"Trump greeted Xi’s entourage, which included Cai Qi, his right-hand man and a member of the elite seven-member Politburo Standing Committee, as well as foreign minister Wang Yi and He Lifeng, China’s economic chief. "}],[{"start":304.8,"text":"Xi then shook hands with members of Trump’s delegation, which included US ambassador to China David Perdue, Treasury secretary Scott Bessent, secretary of state Marco Rubio and defence secretary Pete Hegseth."}],[{"start":319.40000000000003,"text":"Trump and Xi are also expected to discuss the Iran war, rare earths and artificial intelligence. "}],[{"start":326.25000000000006,"text":"Steve Daines, a Republican senator from Montana who was in China last week ahead of the visit, said on CNBC that the US hoped for deals with China on purchases of Boeings, beef and soyabeans. "}],[{"start":348.90000000000003,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1778749715_5551.mp3"}