Xi just told Trump point blank: the Taiwan Strait is the make-or-break issue for US-China. He called peace the "biggest common denominator" — but made it crystal clear that mishandling Taiwan means direct collision. That's a rare, plain-language red line from Xi. With Trump's transactional style, Xi's leaving zero wiggle room on Taiwan.

President Xi stressed to President Trump that the Taiwan question is the most important issue in China-U.S. relations. If it is handled properly, the bilateral relationship will enjoy overall stability. Otherwise, the two countries will have clashes and even conflicts, putting the entire relationship in great jeopardy. “Taiwan independence” and cross-Strait peace are as irreconcilable as fire and water. Safeguarding peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait is the biggest common denominator between China and the U.S.

The Lai Ching-te authorities, who are attempting to internationalize the Taiwan question, are the biggest destroyer of the status quo and the primary source of instability across the Taiwan Strait, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Monday.

China hopes the United States will take "concrete actions" to safeguard peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, China's top diplomat Wang Yi said on Friday. Wang made the remarks when briefing the press on the meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump in Beijing. Stressing that the Taiwan question is China's internal affair, Wang said the Chinese side hopes the U.S. side will adhere to the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiques, and fulfill its due international obligations. The Taiwan question is the most important issue in China-U.S. relations, Wang said. "China hopes the U.S. side will, through concrete actions, safeguard the steady development of China-U.S. relations and peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait." Safeguarding cross-Strait peace and stability is the biggest common denominator between China and the United States, Wang said. "During the meeting, we felt that the U.S. side understands China's position, attaches importance to China's concerns, and, just like the international community, does not stand for or accept Taiwan moving toward independence," he added.