Xi Warns Trump of ‘Very Dangerous Place’ Over Taiwan Mishandling in Extended Beijing Summit

Chinese President Xi Jinping has warned US President Donald Trump that mishandling the Taiwan issue could lead the United States and China to a very dangerous place, according to Chinese state media Xinhua.

The warning emerged as the centerpiece of reporting on the leaders’ meeting in Beijing, which ran for two hours and 15 minutes—35 minutes longer than their previous summit six months ago in Korea. A US response to the reported remarks had not been issued immediately after the talks concluded.

The meeting began with formal proceedings and Chinese protocol outside the Great Hall of the People. Inside, before the cameras, the two leaders struck notes of cooperation. Xi Jinping stated that the common interests between China and the United States outweigh their differences, and that each country’s success represents an opportunity for the other.

“A stable China-US relationship benefits the entire world,” Xi said. “When we cooperate, both sides benefit. When we confront each other, both sides suffer. We should be partners rather than adversaries, achieving mutual success and common prosperity, thereby forging a correct path for major powers to coexist in the new era.”

Trump responded by highlighting the personal rapport between the two leaders. “You and I have known each other now for a long time. In fact, the longest relationship of our two countries that any president and president has had and uh that’s to me an honor,” he said. “We’ve had a fantastic relationship. We’ve gotten along. When there were difficulties, we worked it out. I would call you and you would call me and whenever we had a problem, people don’t know. Whenever we had a problem, we worked that out very quickly. And we’re going to have a fantastic future together.”

Following the talks, the leaders toured the Temple of Heaven, a site of cultural and historical significance. When asked by a reporter how the discussions went, Trump replied “Wait,” before adding, “China is beautiful.”

Trump has since returned to his hotel in central Beijing ahead of a state banquet. Full readouts from the White House and Chinese side remain pending, leaving open questions about Trump’s direct response to the Taiwan warning and other topics covered in the closed-door portions of the meeting. Indications are that discussions were firm behind the scenes.