Chinese President Xi Jinping warned his US counterpart Donald Trump that relations between the two countries could escalate to "conflict" if Washington mishandles the Taiwan issue.
According to Chinese state media, Xi stressed that the Taiwan issue remains the most sensitive point in Sino-US relations.
"The Taiwan issue is the most important in relations between China and the US. If handled properly, relations between the two countries will remain generally stable. But if handled incorrectly, the two countries may face off and even engage in conflict," the Chinese president declared.
However, international media clarify that the term used by Xi does not necessarily imply a direct military clash.
The Chinese leader's statement was made public after the closed-door meeting between Xi Jinping and Donald Trump, which took place at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing and lasted about two hours.
