By Afrireport 
China’s President Xi Jinping has described Taiwan as the most important issue in relations between Beijing and Washington during a phone call with United States President Donald Trump.
He underscored how the self governed island continues to dominate ties between the world’s two largest economies.
According to accounts of the conversation, Xi used the call to restate China’s long held position that Taiwan is a core national interest and a matter that touches directly on China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
He warned that the handling of the Taiwan question would shape the overall direction of China-US relations, signalling that Beijing expects Washington to approach the issue with what it views as caution and restraint.
The phone call came at a time when relations between the two powers remain complex, marked by cooperation in some areas and deep rivalry in others.
While economic ties, climate cooperation and global security issues often feature prominently in bilateral discussions, Taiwan has consistently remained the most sensitive and politically charged topic.
China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has vowed to achieve what it calls reunification, reserving the option of using force if necessary.
The United States, on the other hand, does not formally recognise Taiwan as a sovereign state. However, it maintains unofficial ties with Taipei. It also provides defensive military support under the Taiwan Relations Act.
This balancing act has long been a source of friction between Washington and Beijing.
During the call, Xi reportedly emphasised the importance of the US adhering to the one China principle, a diplomatic framework under which Washington acknowledges Beijing’s position that there is only one China, without explicitly endorsing it.
Chinese officials have frequently accused the US of undermining this framework through arms sales to Taiwan and high level contacts with Taiwanese leaders.
For President Trump, the conversation offered an early test of how his administration intends to manage the Taiwan issue while navigating broader strategic competition with China.
Analysts say any signals from Washington on Taiwan are closely watched in Beijing and Taipei alike, given their potential to alter regional stability in East Asia.
The call also highlighted the delicate task facing both leaders preventing disagreements over Taiwan from escalating into a wider confrontation, while continuing to engage on areas of mutual interest.
As Xi’s remarks suggest, however, Taiwan is likely to remain the central fault line in China-US relations, influencing diplomatic, military and economic interactions in the months ahead.
