Xi warns Trump Taiwan misstep could push U.S.-China ties into danger

Chinese President Xi Jinping warned U.S. President Donald Trump on May 14, 2026, in Beijing that mishandling Taiwan could push U.S.-China relations into an “extremely dangerous” situation, adding geopolitical risk to a summit aimed at stabilizing ties. The meeting at the Great Hall of the People had been expected to focus on trade, economic cooperation and Middle East tensions. Xi said the relationship could remain stable if managed properly, but mistakes could lead to “collision” or conflict. Trump did not directly address the Taiwan warning and later avoided questions on the issue. U.S. business leaders including Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and Apple CEO Tim Cook joined the delegation. The two sides are expected to discuss increased Chinese purchases of U.S. agricultural and aerospace products, though analysts see limited near-term progress while tariffs and rare earth export controls remain unresolved. Trump is also seeking Chinese pressure on Iran over the Strait of Hormuz and nuclear concessions.