Xi Jinping, in dialogue with Donald Trump on Taiwan: “Returning to China”, essential for the international order

Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke on the phone with his US counterpart Donald Trump on Monday and told him that the “return” of Taiwan “to China” is a key element for the post-war international order, state news agency Xinhua reported, according to Reuters.

“China and the United States once fought shoulder to shoulder against fascism and militarism, and now they should work together to protect the results of World War II,” Xi was quoted as saying by Xinhua.

A White House official confirmed that there was a telephone conversation between the two leaders, but did not provide further details.

China considers Taiwan, a democratically self-governing island, to be part of its territory and has not ruled out using military force to take control. The government in Taipei rejects Beijing's claims and says only the Taiwanese people can decide their future.

China is currently in a diplomatic crisis with Japan, after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said this month that a possible Chinese attack on Taiwan risks triggering a military response from Tokyo.

Xi and Trump met in South Korea on October 30, after months of trade tensions sparked by the US president's tariff policies.

Since then, China has resumed purchases of U.S. soybeans and suspended extensive restrictions on rare earth exports, while the U.S. cut tariffs on China by 10 percent.

Xi said relations between China and the US have stabilized and improved after their meeting.

“The facts show again that cooperation benefits both sides, while confrontation hurts both,” he told Trump, arguing for maintaining the positive trend and expanding cooperation.

The two leaders also discussed the war in Ukraine, in which context the Chinese president reiterated that Beijing supports all efforts leading to peace.