China’s Foreign Minister Warns Taiwan Is the Biggest Risk Ahead of Trump’s Beijing Visit

On April 30, 2026, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Wang urged both sides to safeguard the “hard-won stability” in China-U.S. relations and warned that Taiwan is the greatest risk to that stability. The conversation also mentioned the Middle East, though details were not released.

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U.S.-China relations have been volatile since President Donald Trump returned to the White House in January 2025. Trade and tariff disputes eased after a Trump-Xi summit in South Korea last October, but Washington’s military support for Taiwan and diplomatic backing of Taipei remain core points of tension.

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Wang Yi, China’s foreign minister, leads diplomacy under President Xi Jinping. Marco Rubio, U.S. secretary of state, handles bilateral talks. President Donald Trump will travel to Beijing May 14-15 for a summit with Xi, his first China visit since his 2025 inauguration. The Chinese foreign ministry and the U.S. State Department coordinate the agenda.

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• February 2026 – Wang Yi and Rubio meet in Munich.

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• February 28, 2026 – U.S. and Israel begin strikes on Iran.

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• October (last October) – Trump-Xi summit in South Korea, creating a fragile tariff truce.

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• April 30, 2026 – Wang’s call with Rubio.

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• May 14-15, 2026 – Trump’s Beijing visit.

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Stability in China-U.S. ties underpins global trade and security. A Taiwan-driven deterioration could raise military risks, disrupt markets, and hinder cooperation on issues such as the Middle East and climate. The May summit offers a chance to reaffirm commitments, manage differences, and influence world-peace prospects.

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Wang Yi told Rubio that both sides must safeguard the hard-won stability, prepare for upcoming high-level talks, expand cooperation, and manage differences. He stressed that the Taiwan issue concerns China’s core interests and represents the greatest risk to bilateral ties, urging the United States to keep its promises and act for world peace. A State Department official confirmed the conversation was intended to arrange President Trump’s May visit but gave no further comment. The Chinese foreign ministry released a readout summarizing these points.

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• “Both sides should safeguard the hard-won stability, prepare well for key high-level interactions, expand areas of co-operation and manage their differences.” — Wang Yi, Chinese Foreign Minister

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• “The Taiwan issue concerns China’s core interests and is the biggest risk point in China-U.S. relations.” — Wang Yi, Chinese Foreign Minister

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• “The United States must honor its commitments and make the right choices, opening new perspectives for bilateral co-operation and do its part to promote world peace.” — Wang Yi, Chinese Foreign Minister

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• “Under the strategic guidance of President Xi Jinping and President Trump, China-U.S. relations have generally remained stable.” — Wang Yi, Chinese Foreign Minister

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The upcoming Trump-Xi summit will test whether the “hard-won stability” can be preserved amid Taiwan-related frictions. Observers will watch for concrete agreements on trade, security, and cooperation in the Middle East, as well as any signals that the United States might adjust its Taiwan policy in response to Chinese concerns.

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