Amidst rising tensions, President Xi Jinping urges the US to exercise caution in its arms sales to Taiwan, emphasizing the island's status as a part of China. This comes as President Trump, who is set to visit China in April, discusses a potential increase in Chinese purchases of US soybeans, currently at 12 million tonnes, to 20 million tonnes. The two leaders' recent phone call covered a range of topics, including trade, Russia's invasion of Ukraine, fentanyl, and Taiwan. Xi highlighted the importance of maintaining a positive relationship with China and the personal rapport with President Xi. He also stressed the need for the US to handle arms sales to Taiwan with prudence, as China has long vowed to 'reunify' with Taiwan and has not ruled out the use of force. The Trump administration's recent $11 billion arms sale to Taiwan, which included advanced rocket launchers and self-propelled howitzers, has sparked concerns in Beijing, which warns of a potential escalation of tensions across the Taiwan Strait. President Xi proposed a collaborative approach, suggesting that both sides can address each other's concerns through equality, respect, and mutual benefit.
