Taipei described China on Thursday as the "sole risk" to regional peace and stability, firing back at Chinese President Xi Jinping who used his high-stakes summit with US President Donald Trump in Beijing to warn that mishandling the Taiwan question could push the two superpowers toward "clashes and even conflict".
The sharp rebuke from the island nation's foreign ministry came in direct response to Xi's blunt opening remarks at the Great Hall of the People, where the Chinese leader cautioned Trump that the Taiwan issue could lead to conflict if not handled carefully.
"The Beijing authorities are currently the sole risk to regional peace and stability," Taiwan's foreign ministry said in a statement, pointing to China's "military harassment" and grey-zone activities around Taiwan and the region as evidence, adding that "Beijing has no right to make any claims on behalf of Taiwan internationally", according to Al Jazeera.
Xi's words at the summit were among the most direct warnings he has issued publicly on the subject. "The Taiwan question is the most important issue in China-US relations," Xi said, according to PTI. "If mishandled, the two nations could collide or even come into conflict, pushing the entire China-US relationship into a highly perilous situation."
The remarks added a sharp edge to what had otherwise begun as a ceremonially warm summit.
ALSO READ: 'Clashes And Conflicts': Xi Jinping Warns Trump — US-China Ties At Risk If Taiwan Issue Mishandled
Trump's official delegation included Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, alongside chief executives from some of the world's biggest companies, including Elon Musk, Apple's Tim Cook and Nvidia's Jensen Huang.
Trump himself adopted a conciliatory tone toward Xi, telling him: "You're a great leader. I say it to everybody. Sometimes people don't like me saying it, but I say it anyway because it's true."
The Taiwan question looms particularly large this visit. Trump said ahead of the summit that he would speak to Xi about US arms sales to Taiwan — a departure from the historic US position that it will not consult Beijing on its support for the island.
China has sworn to take Taiwan and has not ruled out using force, allegedly ramping up military pressure around the island in recent years.
ALSO READ: China Tweaks Marco Rubio's Name To Bypass Travel Ban For Donald Trump-Xi Jinping Talks
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