Beijing, 25 November 2025.- In a rare gesture, Xi Jinping contacted Donald Trump to discuss Taiwan, Ukraine and trade relations. This initiative comes at a time when tensions are intensifying between China and Japan, with Tokyo now declaring itself ready for military intervention in the event of an attack on Taiwan. Beijing thus seeks to influence the American position before Trump's expected visit in April 2026.
An unusual phone call took place this Tuesday between Beijing and Washington. Xi Jinping, breaking with the usual protocol, took the initiative to contact Donald Trump. According to several analysts, this gesture reflects Beijing's growing concern about the Japanese tightening of the Taiwanese question.
Since the recent statement by the Japanese Prime Minister that military intervention was no longer excluded in the event of a Chinese attack on Taiwan, relations between Tokyo and Beijing have reached an unprecedented level of tension. In an effort to avoid the formation of an unfavourable international front, Xi Jinping seeks to reposition China in the diplomatic game before Trump's planned visit in the spring.
While the US press release insists on discussions related to trade, agricultural purchases and fentanyl, it does not mention Taiwan. Beijing, on the other hand, places the island at the heart of trade. Xi Jinping even recalled that China and the United States had fought together « militarism » During World War II, a direct allusion to isolate Japan and encourage Washington to adopt a more ambiguous strategic posture.
The diplomatic equation is becoming more complex as the Trump administration has just approved the sale of $330 million of parts for Taiwanese fighter aircraft, thus strengthening the American posture in the region despite Chinese efforts to influence Washington.
W.A.
