Xi warns Trump over Taiwan, says differences could lead to clash

China's President Xi Jinping (R) and US President Donald Trump visit the Temple of Heaven on May 14, 2026 in Beijing, China. China Pool/ AsiaPac hide caption toggle caption China Pool/ AsiaPac President Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping met Thursday in a choreographed summit in Beijing, where the Chinese leader warned that differences over Taiwan could lead to conflict between the world's two largest economies. As he embarked on the visit, Trump was met with a ceremony that featured an honor guard as well as a crowd of children waving Chinese and American flags. "The relationship between China and the USA is going to be better than ever before," Trump said, making his opening remarks in the Great Hall of the People. Xi said his country was committed to building a "relationship of strategic stability" with the U.S. Taiwan "the most important issue" for Xi US President Donald Trump (R) and China's President Xi Jinping (L) greet children waving Chinese and US national flags and flowers during a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on May 14, 2026. Kenny Holston/AFP via hide caption toggle caption Kenny Holston/AFP via At the summit, Xi placed Taiwan, a key point of friction between the U.S. and China, at the center, calling it "the most important issue" between the two countries. Taiwan is a self-governing island that China claims as its own territory. Beijing has never renounced the use of force to unify Taiwan with the Chinese mainland. The U.S. …