Xi, Trump and why their talks are stoking unease in Taiwan

The concern compounded unease raised by the release last month of the US’ National Defence Strategy

, which made no mention of Taiwan.

In a phone call on Wednesday, Chinese President Xi Jinping told his American counterpart Donald Trump that Taiwan was the “most important” question in China-US relations

. He stressed that Taiwan was Chinese territory and that Beijing would never allow it to be separated.

Urging Washington to handle arms sales to Taiwan with “extreme caution”, Xi said Beijing must safeguard its national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Trump said on social media that he valued Beijing’s concerns over Taiwan and was willing to maintain communication with Beijing to keep bilateral ties stable.

Taiwanese leader William Lai Ching-te sought to dispel anxieties on the island on Thursday, saying the call had not altered the fundamentals of relations between Taiwan, Washington and Beijing.