The Latest: Xi and Trump summit focuses on business links as Chinese leader issues Taiwan warning

U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping concluded their two-day summit in Beijing on Thursday after a two-hour meeting, with stability in bilateral relations as the primary focus. The discussions centered on trade, technology, and agricultural deals, including potential Chinese purchases of U.S. passenger planes and farm products, to prevent a repeat of last year’s trade war sparked by Trump’s tariff hikes. Xi emphasized the importance of handling Taiwan carefully, stating that proper management would ensure overall stability, while mismanagement could lead to 'clashes and even conflicts,' according to China’s official Xinhua News Agency. Trump had previously authorized an $11 billion arms package for Taiwan in December, though deliveries have not yet begun. The U.S. maintains its stance of 'strategic ambiguity' on Taiwan, avoiding explicit commitments to defend the self-governed island while warning against China’s use of force to reunify it. Senator Marco Rubio, a key Trump ally, confirmed that Taiwan was discussed but did not feature prominently, and that U.S. policy on the issue remains unchanged. The summit also touched on the Iran conflict, with Rubio rejecting suggestions that Trump would use U.S. gasoline prices as leverage to end the war. He stated that the administration is taking measures to keep domestic fuel costs lower than global averages and warned Iran against attempting to exploit U.S. politics for a disadvantageous deal. Rubio added that the U.S. would not tolerate such pressure tactics. Beyond geopolitical tensions, the summit included a viral moment when Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, met with Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun in Beijing. Their selfie, featuring Musk’s wink, drew over 20 million views on China’s social media platform Weibo, highlighting the intersection of business and diplomacy during the high-stakes talks. The broader focus remained on economic cooperation, though significant progress on contentious issues like Taiwan and trade barriers proved elusive.