Managing ‘Taiwan question’ to be primary factor for ‘constructive strategic stability’ in ties over the next three years, analysts note
3-MIN READ3-MINAmber Wangin Beijing,Alcott Weiin BeijingandLawrence Chungin TaipeiPublished: 10:12pm, 14 May 2026Chinese President Xi Jinping raised the “Taiwan question” early in his summit with US counterpart Donald Trump on Thursday, warning that any mishandling of the critical issue could lead to conflict and push relations into an “extremely dangerous situation”.
Xi’s messaging on Taiwan was tougher in tone than during their last Beijing summit in 2017, analysts noted. They suggested that managing this issue would be the primary factor for ensuring what the Chinese leader called “constructive strategic stability” between Beijing and Washington for at least the next three years.
Taiwan was the “most important” issue in Beijing’s relations with Washington, Xi told Trump as they met at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, according to state news agency Xinhua.
“If handled well, bilateral relations can maintain overall stability. If handled poorly, the two countries will face collision or even conflict, pushing the entire China-US relationship into an extremely dangerous situation,” Xi was quoted as saying.
“Taiwan independence is fundamentally incompatible with peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. Maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait is the greatest common divisor between China and the US,” he said.
“The US must handle the Taiwan issue with utmost caution.”
