Xi Jinping Uses Trump Phone Call To Push Taiwan Claim And Protect Fragile Trade Truce

In a closely watched phone call on 24 November 2025, Chinese President Xi Jinping used his direct line to US President Donald Trump to push Beijing’s position on Taiwan more forcefully than before. Xi described Taiwan’s “return to China” as an integral part of the international order that emerged after the Second World War, arguing that China and the United States once fought side by side against fascism and militarism and should now defend the outcomes of that victory together.

The conversation unfolded at a sensitive moment. Relations between China and Japan have plunged after Japanese prime minister Sanae Takaichi signalled that Tokyo could consider military involvement if China attacked Taiwan. At the same time, Washington and Beijing are trying to stabilise a fragile truce in their long running trade dispute, even as Russia’s war in Ukraine continues to reshape global power politics.

Why Taiwan Was At The Heart Of The Call

Taiwan remains one of the most dangerous flashpoints in Asia. Beijing regards the island as part of its territory and refuses to rule out the use of force to bring it under mainland control. Taiwan’s government insists that only its 23 million people can decide their future and rejects any formula that implies subordination to Beijing.

By framing Taiwan’s status as part of the broader post war order, Xi is trying to place the issue in a global legal and historical context, not just as a domestic matter. Chinese state media and the foreign ministry highlighted this argument, stressing that China and the United States were allies during the Second World War and should now work together to defend the outcome of that conflict, including what Beijing sees as the eventual “return” of Taiwan.

For Beijing, this language also responds to recent developments. Growing security cooperation between the United States, Japan, and other Indo Pacific partners has made Chinese leaders more anxious that outside powers might directly intervene in any Taiwan conflict. Tying Taiwan to the legacy of the anti fascist struggle allows Xi to argue that opposing Beijing’s claim would undermine the very order that the United States helped build.

Short Summary

Japan’s New Role And The China Japan Diplomatic Row

The phone call came in the middle of what analysts now describe as a China Japan diplomatic crisis. Japanese prime minister Sanae Takaichi told parliament that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could create an “existential crisis” for Japan under existing security legislation, opening the door for Japanese military support to Taiwan in coordination with allies.

Beijing reacted sharply. Chinese officials accused Japan of crossing a red line, warned of consequences, and imposed measures that have led to a decline in Chinese tourism to Japan, tighter restrictions on some Japanese imports such as seafood, and the cancellation of cultural exchanges.

Against this backdrop, Xi’s call with Trump served multiple purposes. It allowed China to restate its position on Taiwan directly to Washington while signalling to Tokyo that Beijing prefers to manage the crisis through engagement with the United States, which remains Japan’s key security partner. It also gave Xi a chance to portray China as the defender of a legitimate post war settlement rather than an aggressor rewriting borders.

How Taiwan Responded

Taiwan’s leadership responded firmly to Xi’s remarks. Premier Cho Jung tai told reporters in Taipei that a “return” to China is not an option for Taiwan’s 23 million people and described the island, officially known as the Republic of China, as a fully sovereign and independent country. He stressed that only the people of Taiwan have the right to decide their own future.

Taiwanese officials and analysts also noted that Trump did not mention Taiwan in his public readout of the call, which focused instead on trade, fentanyl and soybeans. From Taipei’s perspective, the absence of any public reference to Taiwan by the White House was preferable to a statement that might appear to endorse Beijing’s framing.

At the same time, Taiwan is acutely aware that the island remains deeply entangled in Sino American competition. United States law commits Washington to provide defensive arms to Taiwan, and recent approvals of new arms packages have already drawn strong protests from Beijing.

Trade Truce, Rare Earths And Soybean Purchases

Although Taiwan dominated headlines, the call also aimed to keep a delicate trade truce on track. After a summit in South Korea in late October, Beijing and Washington announced a one year pause on some of their most damaging measures. China agreed to suspend certain export restrictions on critical minerals and magnets that are vital for high tech manufacturing, while the United States promised to scale back some tariffs on Chinese imports.

China is the dominant player in mining and processing many rare earth elements, so any restrictions can quickly disrupt global supply chains for industries ranging from electric vehicles to defence. The suspension of export curbs, even on a temporary basis, has been welcomed by manufacturers in multiple countries.

On agriculture, US officials say China has resumed buying American soybeans and has pledged to purchase about 12 million metric tons by the end of this year, with a target of 25 million tons in 2026. Beijing has not confirmed all those figures, but Trump highlighted new farm sales as a success for his domestic audience.

China has also moved to restrict exports of chemicals used to produce fentanyl and related synthetic opioids, which have fuelled a deadly overdose crisis in the United States. In return, Washington has eased some tariffs, part of a broader effort to stabilise economic ties even while strategic rivalry deepens.

Ukraine War And Global Stakes

Ukraine was another major topic in the call. Xi reiterated China’s stated position that it supports all efforts that are conducive to peace and called for a fair, lasting and binding agreement to end the conflict. He urged all parties to narrow their differences and address what Beijing describes as the “root causes” of the war.

For Trump, Ukraine remains a central foreign policy challenge. His administration is searching for a formula that could end the nearly four year conflict without appearing to reward aggression or undermine European security. Engaging Beijing is part of that effort, although many Western governments argue that China has indirectly supported Russia through trade and industrial cooperation.

By tying Taiwan, Ukraine and the trade dispute together, Xi is effectively asking Washington to see these issues as part of a single negotiation over the future of the international order and China’s place in it. That framing may give Beijing leverage, but it also raises the risk that failure in one area could derail fragile progress in others.

What This Means For The Indo Pacific

The Xi Trump phone call underlines how tightly linked security and economics have become in the Indo Pacific. Tensions over Taiwan now intersect with food security, critical minerals, advanced technology, and the war in Europe. US allies like Japan are being drawn deeper into the Taiwan debate, while smaller countries in the region worry about being forced to choose sides.

For now, both Xi and Trump have an interest in presenting their relationship as stable and “extremely strong”, as Trump wrote in his Truth Social post. He has accepted an invitation to visit Beijing in April next year and has invited Xi for a state visit to Washington later in 2026. Chinese statements have been more cautious and have not mentioned specific dates, which suggests that genuine differences remain even as both sides talk about momentum and cooperation.

Whether this latest call helps reduce the risk of miscalculation over Taiwan will depend on what happens next. If both sides follow through on trade commitments and maintain communication on Ukraine and regional security, the Indo Pacific could see a period of relative stability. If not, the combination of nationalist politics, military modernisation and unresolved sovereignty disputes will continue to make Taiwan one of the most dangerous issues in world politics.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why did Xi Jinping raise Taiwan so prominently in this call?

Xi used the call to argue that Taiwan’s “return to China” is not just a domestic issue but part of the international order created after the Second World War. By doing so, he hopes to win broader acceptance of China’s claim and push back against moves by the United States, Japan and others that Beijing sees as support for Taiwan’s de facto independence.

2. Does the United States recognise Taiwan as an independent country?

The United States does not formally recognise Taiwan as an independent state and maintains diplomatic relations with Beijing, in line with the “one China” policy. At the same time, US law requires Washington to provide Taiwan with defensive arms and to help the island maintain a sufficient self defence capability. The United States also opposes any attempt to change the status quo by force.

3. How did Taiwan’s government react to Xi’s remarks?

Taiwan premier Cho Jung tai rejected the idea of any “return” to China and said Taiwan is already a fully sovereign and independent country. He stressed that only Taiwan’s people can decide their own future. Taiwanese officials also welcomed the fact that Trump did not publicly repeat Beijing’s wording on Taiwan after the call.

4. What is the dispute between China and Japan over Taiwan?

The current China Japan dispute began when prime minister Sanae Takaichi said a Chinese attack on Taiwan could create an “existential crisis” for Japan under its security laws, allowing the country to provide military support. China condemned the comment, accused Japan of crossing a red line, and hinted at economic retaliation, including measures that affect tourism and trade.

5. What did Xi and Trump agree on regarding trade and rare earths?

Building on an earlier summit in South Korea, the two leaders signalled that they would continue a one year truce that includes China suspending some export restrictions on critical minerals and magnets, and the United States easing certain tariffs. China has resumed buying US soybeans and pledged larger purchases in future years, while both sides are also working on curbs related to fentanyl production. These moves are intended to stabilise economic ties even while strategic tensions remain high.

For More Information Click HERE