Trump-Xi Summit Concludes with Tension Over Taiwan and Iran
President Trump wrapped up high-stakes talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, with both sides claiming progress on stabilizing U.S.-China relations, but disagreements persist on Taiwan, Iran, and the crucial Strait of Hormuz.
Summit Outcomes
Trump flew back to Washington Friday after two days of talks accompanied by 16 top U.S. executives including Elon Musk, Tim Cook, and Jensen Huang.
Taiwan Arms Package Uncertainty
Trump said he has not made a decision on a $14 billion arms package for Taiwan after hearing concerns from Xi. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reaffirmed that "U.S. policy toward Taiwan was unchanged" and called it "a terrible mistake" for China to try to take Taiwan by force.
Iran and Strait of Hormuz
The leaders discussed reopening the Strait of Hormuz, which has been effectively closed since the Iran conflict began. About 20% of the world's oil flowed through the strait before the war, and its closure has contributed to surging global energy prices.
Xi's Warning
Chinese officials said Xi warned Trump during private talks that differences on Taiwan could lead to "clashes and even conflicts" if handled poorly. However, Trump said he was not concerned about the U.S.-China relationship deteriorating.
Nuclear Negotiations
Trump also raised a potential three-way nuclear deal involving the U.S., Russia, and China to cap nuclear warheads, though China has previously been cool to such arrangements.