Xi Jinping Reaffirms Taiwan Claims in Call with Donald Trump Amid Regional Tensions

Chinese leader Xi Jinping recently reiterated Beijing's long-standing claims over Taiwan during a phone call with former U.S. President Donald Trump, emphasizing the island's return as an "integral part of the postwar international order," as reported by The Guardian on November 25, 2025. This high-level discussion underscores the persistent geopolitical sensitivities surrounding the self-governing island.

japantimes.co.jp reported, The call, which occurred on Monday, November 24, 2025, saw Xi assert that Taiwan's integration into China is crucial for upholding the outcomes of World War II, a conflict where China and the U.S. fought together against fascism and militarism, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry. This historical framing aims to legitimize Beijing's territorial ambitions.

Donald Trump, in his public statement on Truth Social following the "very good" call, focused primarily on other topics such as Ukraine, fentanyl, and agricultural trade, notably omitting any mention of Taiwan. He praised "extremely strong" U.S.-China relations, as noted by RNZ.

theguardian.com noted, However, the Chinese Foreign Ministry's readout presented a different narrative, stating that Trump acknowledged the significance of the Taiwan question to China during their discussion. This discrepancy highlights differing priorities and interpretations of the conversation between the two leaders, as reported by CNA.

In response to Beijing's assertions, Taiwan's Premier Cho Jung-tai firmly stated on Tuesday that "reunification" with China is "not an option" for the island's 23 million people. Cho emphasized that the Republic of China (Taiwan) is a fully sovereign and independent country, according to CNA.

cgtn.com reported, The phone call transpired amidst heightened diplomatic tensions between China and Japan over Taiwan, triggered by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's recent suggestion that Tokyo could intervene militarily in any attack on Taiwan. This has led to a weeks-long diplomatic row, as detailed by The Guardian.

Prime Minister Takaichi also held a subsequent call with Donald Trump, where they discussed his conversation with Xi and broader U.S.-Japan relations, according to The Japan Times. This flurry of diplomatic activity underscores the delicate balance of power in the Indo-Pacific region.

• japantimes.co.jp noted, Historical Context of China's Taiwan Claims: China's assertion that Taiwan's "return" is integral to the postwar international order is rooted in its interpretation of World War II outcomes. Beijing argues that treaties and instruments like the Cairo Declaration and Potsdam Proclamation affirmed China's sovereignty over Taiwan, making its recovery an outcome of the WWII victory, as stated by the Chinese Foreign Ministry on November 20, 2025. This narrative is a cornerstone of the Chinese Communist Party's claims.

• Key Stakeholders and Their Positions: Chinese leader Xi Jinping maintains that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China, vowing eventual "reunification," by force if necessary. Former U.S. President Donald Trump publicly emphasized strong U.S.-China relations and trade, while the Chinese readout indicated he understood Taiwan's importance to Beijing. Taiwan's Premier Cho Jung-tai unequivocally rejects any notion of "return" to China, asserting Taiwan's sovereign independence. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's remarks on potential military intervention have significantly escalated regional tensions.

• theguardian.com reported, Economic and Political Implications of Regional Tensions: The diplomatic row between China and Japan, sparked by Takaichi's comments, has already led to economic repercussions, including a dip in Chinese tourism to Japan, a ban on Japanese seafood, and the cancellation of joint cultural events, as reported by The Guardian. The Institute for the Study of War noted on November 21, 2025, that China has also issued a travel advisory for Japan and reimposed seafood import bans, indicating a broader pressure campaign.

• U.S. Policy and Arms Sales to Taiwan: The U.S. does not officially recognize Taiwan's statehood but remains its most crucial partner and arms supplier, adhering to a policy of "strategic ambiguity." The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Taiwan confirmed on November 14, 2025, that the Trump administration recently approved a US$330 million arms sale to Taiwan, including aircraft components, reinforcing Taiwan's defense capabilities. This marks the first such sale under the second Trump administration.

• cgtn.com noted, Expert Analysis on the Xi-Trump Call: Analysts suggest that Xi Jinping may have initiated the call to influence Trump regarding Japan's stance on Taiwan, aiming to de-escalate the ongoing diplomatic crisis, according to The Straits Times. Tetsuo Kotani, a professor at Meikai University, noted that Xi likely sought assurance that Trump would not support Takaichi's position, indicating China's effort to garner global support against Japan's remarks.

• Timeline of Recent Events: The current crisis began with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's parliamentary remarks on November 7, suggesting military intervention in a Taiwan contingency. This prompted strong condemnation and retaliatory measures from Beijing, as detailed by Time Magazine. The phone call between Xi Jinping and Donald Trump occurred on November 24, followed by a separate call between Trump and Takaichi on November 25, highlighting rapid diplomatic movements.

• japantimes.co.jp reported, Taiwan's Defense and International Stance: Taiwan's Premier Cho Jung-tai emphasized that Taiwan is critically important for regional security and technological development, asserting that "China cannot undermine this status quo in any way." Taiwan is actively strengthening its defense capabilities, with President Lai Ching-te announcing plans to increase the defense budget to over three percent of GDP by 2026 and five percent by 2030, as reported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Taiwan.

• U.S. Public Opinion on Taiwan: A recent survey by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs in November 2025 indicates that while the U.S. public generally prefers maintaining the status quo across the Taiwan Strait, support for aiding Taiwan in a crisis has increased. A majority of Americans favor sending food, medical supplies, and imposing sanctions on China, with growing support for using the U.S. Navy to break a blockade, though direct troop deployment remains less favored.