China’s President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump reinforced their emerging “G-2” dynamic on Monday, exchanging invitations for high-level visits even as Beijing deepened confrontations with Japan and India and pushed its claims on Taiwan with minimal resistance from Washington.
During a 45-minute phone call, Xi elevated the Taiwan issue after Japan’s new prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, warned in her first major foreign policy address that any Chinese blockade or seizure of Taiwan would pose a “direct threat” to Japan’s security—one that could activate Tokyo’s mutual defense treaty with the U.S. Beijing quickly followed up the speech with the Xi-Trump call, insisting afterward that Xi stressed Taiwan’s “return” as a core element of the post-war international order and reiterated that the one-China principle is non-negotiable. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said Xi framed adherence to the principle as the foundation of mutual trust.
Trump’s public description of the call, however, omitted any mention of Taiwan. Instead, he highlighted trade discussions and touted an improving bilateral relationship. His upbeat social-media post referenced talks on Ukraine-Russia, fentanyl, soybeans and other agricultural issues, before announcing that Xi had invited him to Beijing in April—an invitation Trump accepted while extending one of his own for a state visit later in the year. Analysts said the omission signaled a U.S. step back as China intensifies pressure on Taiwan, especially after witnessing Washington’s wavering commitment to Ukraine.
Hours later, Trump spoke with Takaichi to reaffirm “close cooperation” between Washington and Tokyo on Indo-Pacific security. The White House called the conversation productive, mentioning supply-chain resilience and joint exercises but offering no detail on Taiwan.
The rapid sequencing of the calls points to Trump’s attempt to juggle major-power engagement with China—an approach he himself terms “G-2”—while trying to reassure allies. Critics say the strategy risks encouraging Beijing’s assertiveness. Several U.S. analysts warned that Xi is “playing” Trump after the U.S. President’s earlier threats of economic retaliation against China failed to materialize.
“Xi has secured Trump’s commitment to multiple meetings in 2026, plus concessions on extremely contentious issues like Taiwan and U.S. export controls. By every measure, China is diplomatically, strategically and technologically better off than it was a year ago,” wrote Foreign Affairs commentator Jonathan Czin. Others cautioned that Trump’s transactional focus on economic deals over strategic commitments in the Indo-Pacific could alienate partners such as Japan and India.
Trump has repeatedly talked up his personal rapport with Xi in recent weeks, even as analysts argue the U.S. has been outmaneuvered in the confrontation Trump himself escalated. In another post on Monday, he framed the call as a continuation of their “highly successful” meeting in South Korea three weeks ago, saying both sides had made “significant progress.” While Trump celebrated momentum, Beijing was simultaneously reviving its dispute with New Delhi over Arunachal Pradesh.
China’s row with Japan intensified soon after Takaichi, elected last month, told lawmakers that any Chinese assault on Taiwan—located roughly 70 miles from Japanese territory at its closest point—could trigger a Japanese military response.
Beijing reacted sharply. Foreign Minister Wang Yi accused Takaichi of sending a “shocking wrong signal” by suggesting Japan might intervene militarily, calling it a “red line.” China’s embassy in Tokyo summoned Japan’s ambassador, and the PLA warned of a “crushing defeat” for any Japanese involvement in a Taiwan conflict.
The confrontation escalated to the United Nations on November 22, where China’s envoy condemned Japan’s stance as “provocative meddling.” State media intensified the rhetoric, with the Global Times branding Takaichi’s remarks as reckless echoes of U.S. “hegemony” that risk plunging the region into war.
