Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi described Taiwan as the biggest risk factor in China-US relations
during a phone call with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday, according to reports from state broadcaster CCTV.
During the conversation, Wang stated that the Taiwan issue concerns China’s core interests
and urged the United States to honour its commitments
and make the right choice
to facilitate new opportunities for cooperation between the two nations. He characterized head-of-state diplomacy as the anchor
of bilateral ties, asserting that stability under the strategic guidance of their respective leaders serves the interests of both countries.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio responded by acknowledging that the relationship between the United States and China is the most important bilateral connection in the world
. Rubio described head-of-state diplomacy as the core
of the relationship and stated that both nations should maintain open communication and coordination to properly handle differences
and achieve long-term strategic stability.
The government of Taiwan expressed concern on Friday regarding the diplomatic exchange. In a statement, Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it was concerned about the press release issued by China … which again unilaterally made threatening remarks on the Taiwan issue
.
The ministry further noted that Beijing has recently continued to escalate pressure on Taiwan
. This follows the postponement of a planned visit to Eswatini by President Lai Ching-te in late April. According to the president’s office, the trip was delayed after three countries withdrew permission for the aircraft to fly over their territories following pressure from China.
The call between Wang and Rubio marks the first public communication between the two top diplomats since the United States and Israel launched a war against Iran on February 28. During the call, the diplomats also discussed the escalating situation in the Middle East.
These developments occur approximately two weeks before a scheduled summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping. The White House has indicated the meeting will take place in Beijing on May 14 and 15, though Chinese officials have not yet confirmed those specific dates.
Parallel to the diplomatic call, Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng held a video conversation with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer to coordinate groundwork for the upcoming summit.
The tensions follow reports that Washington has been considering a new round of arms sales to Taiwan, coming after an $11 billion package announced in December.
The White House has not issued a formal response to Beijing’s characterization of Taiwan as the primary risk to bilateral stability.
