Xi urges Trump to oppose Taiwan independence in White House call
Chinese leader Xi Jinping urged US President Donald Trump to "oppose" Taiwan independence during their White House summit Thursday, a stronger stance than Washington's previous position of not supporting the island's formal independence. Xi's call marked his first public demand for Trump to change US policy on the self-ruled island. Xi has prioritized bringing Taiwan under China's control since 2012, vowing to achieve this by force if necessary. The US has not released a readout of the meeting, leaving Trump's response unclear. China privately requested this language change in 2025, and analysts say a shift would undermine Taiwan's confidence in US support. Trump has delayed a $14 billion arms package for Taiwan and previously called it a "negotiating chip." Xi's remarks came hours before China's full readout, highlighting Taiwan as Beijing's top red line issue. Trump gave Xi an unprecedented welcome, hosting a state dinner for the Chinese leader.