China's foreign minister on Thursday urged the United States to maintain stability between the two powers and warned that Taiwan posed the biggest risk, weeks ahead of President Donald Trump's scheduled visit to Beijing.
Diplomatic Talks Ahead of Trump's Visit
In a call with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that Beijing and Washington should safeguard the hard-won stability in China-US relations, according to a statement from China's foreign ministry. The talks also covered the Middle East, where China has been a key partner of Tehran but has largely kept its distance after Trump joined Israel in attacking Iran, sending global oil prices spiralling.
A State Department official confirmed the phone call and said it was to arrange Trump's trip but did not provide further details. Trump is scheduled to visit China on 14-15 May to meet President Xi Jinping – his first trip to the rival power since returning to the White House in January 2025.
Trade and Taiwan Tensions
During Trump's first year back in office, Washington and Beijing clashed over trade and tariffs until a truce was declared in October, when Trump and Xi met in South Korea. Wang told Rubio that both sides should safeguard the hard-won stability, prepare well for key high-level interactions, expand areas of cooperation, and manage their differences.
While ties have generally remained stable under Trump and Xi, Wang emphasised that the Taiwan issue concerns China's core interests and is the biggest risk point in China-US relations. Beijing claims Taiwan as part of its territory awaiting reunification and is sharply critical of US military assistance to the self-ruled island and its support of Taipei on the international stage.
The United States must honour its commitments and make the right choices, opening new perspectives for bilateral cooperation and doing its part to promote world peace, Wang said. The statement from the Chinese ministry said Wang and Rubio had exchanged views on the situation in the Middle East without offering further details.
