When asked by reporters after the Trump-Xi meeting whether Taiwan was discussed, US President Donald Trump avoided answering. However, according to Chinese sources, President Xi Jinping told Trump that if the cross-strait issue is handled properly, bilateral relations will enjoy overall stability; otherwise, conflict could break out. In response, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, who accompanied Trump on his trip to China, clarified that Xi Jinping's wording was not actually as harsh as the official Chinese statements.
In an interview with Bloomberg Television today (May 15), Greer said that the U.S. has achieved many successes in balancing U.S.-China trade, and expects China to buy more U.S. soybeans in the second half of the year, with both sides signing double-digit agricultural product orders. He also said that the U.S. and China will continue to truce in the trade war.
When asked whether the Taiwan issue would affect US-China trade negotiations, Greer said it was "normal" for China to bring up Taiwan, but he "did not think" the Taiwan issue would affect broader trade negotiations.
The report noted that when discussing the Taiwan issue, Greer implied that Xi Jinping's wording regarding cross-strait relations during the talks was not as harsh as reported by Chinese state media. However, he also stated that the US understands that Taiwan is a very important issue for Beijing.
According to a report by China's state-run Xinhua News Agency, Xi Jinping told Trump directly that the Taiwan issue is the most crucial issue in China-US relations. "If handled properly, the relationship between the two countries will enjoy overall stability. Otherwise, conflict or even confrontation will occur, plunging the entire relationship into great danger." He also described the current situation across the Taiwan Strait as "Taiwan independence and peace across the Taiwan Strait are irreconcilable. Maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait is the greatest common ground between China and the United States."
