China has warned the United States that it could call off a planned meeting between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping later this month if Washington approves any new arms sales to Taiwan, according to multiple sources familiar with bilateral relations.

The warning poses a potential setback for Trump, who is placing significant importance on the summit as he seeks to showcase diplomatic achievements ahead of the November midterm congressional elections. As preparations continue for Xi’s possible visit to the United States, Beijing has again stressed that Taiwan remains a “red line” in its relationship with Washington.

Taiwan Dispute Remains At Centre Of Tensions

China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has not ruled out using force to bring the self-governing democratic island under its control.

Xi highlighted the sensitivity of the issue during his meeting with Trump in Beijing in mid-May, when he described Taiwan as the “most important issue” in relations between the two countries.

The Chinese president also warned of the possibility of conflict if the issue was mishandled.

Trump, however, suggested in a television interview at the time that US arms sales to Taiwan could be “a very good negotiating chip” in his dealings with China.

The remarks raised questions about Washington’s longstanding security commitments to its allies and partners in Asia.

China’s increasing military activity in and around the Taiwan Strait has meanwhile heightened concerns about a possible invasion of Taiwan and the prospect of a broader regional conflict involving the United States and its allies.

Under the Taiwan Relations Act, passed by the US Congress after Washington switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979, the United States provides Taiwan with weapons to help maintain its ability to defend itself.

The Trump administration announced an $11 billion arms package for Taiwan in December last year, the largest such package ever announced, drawing a strong response from Beijing.

Xi’s Possible US Visit Faces Fresh Uncertainty

Trump has said he will host Xi and his wife at the White House on September 24 and hold a state dinner in their honour.

Beijing, however, has yet to officially announce Xi’s visit to the United States.

The latest warning suggests that the possibility of a fresh US weapons package for Taiwan could become a major obstacle to the proposed summit.

China has made clear that any new arms sale to Taipei could directly affect Xi’s participation in the meeting, placing the planned September 24 engagement under fresh uncertainty.

The summit is particularly important for Trump as he seeks diplomatic successes ahead of the November congressional elections.

Iran Conflict Could Add To Summit Agenda

The US war against Iran could also become a major issue if the Trump-Xi meeting takes place, given China’s position as a key economic partner of Tehran.

Trump’s war with Israel, which began in late February, has continued with no immediate end in sight, while his administration has been pressuring Beijing to refrain from conducting business with Iran.

Despite that pressure, one of the sources said China had maintained a cooperative approach in its dealings with the United States.

“China has shown a cooperative stance and is not hindering dialogue with the United States,” the source said.

China’s economic relationship with Iran could nevertheless add another sensitive issue to discussions between Trump and Xi as Washington seeks to increase pressure on Tehran.

Trade And Artificial Intelligence Also On Agenda

Economic matters are also expected to feature prominently in the talks.

The US Treasury and Commerce departments have been leading negotiations with Beijing, and the two presidents are expected to discuss several important economic issues if the summit proceeds.

Among the proposals under discussion is a framework to reduce tariffs on $30 billion worth of goods from each side.

According to the sources, a framework for dialogue on artificial intelligence safety is also expected to be high on the agenda.

If the meeting goes ahead, Trump and Xi could therefore address several of the most contentious issues in US-China relations, including Taiwan, trade, Iran and emerging technology.

For now, however, the dispute over Taiwan arms sales has cast uncertainty over the summit itself, with Beijing signalling that a fresh US decision to provide weapons to Taipei could put Xi’s participation at risk.

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