US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke by phone on Monday to discuss trade, Taiwan and Ukraine, according to the White House and Chinese officials.
Xi told Trump in a phone call on Monday that Taiwan's return to mainland China is "an important part of the post-war international order," according to China's official Xinhua news agency.
Xi recalled that the two nations once fought against fascism and now must cooperate to uphold the results of World War II. The White House confirmed the call but did not share specific details.
China considers Taiwan its territory and can use force to exert control, while the Taiwanese government insists that only its people can decide their future. China currently faces significant diplomatic tensions with Japan after Japan's Prime Minister suggested a military response to a possible Chinese attack on Taiwan.
During their call, Xi stressed that relations between China and the United States have stabilized since their meeting in South Korea, where they discussed trade issues. Xi reiterated that cooperation is beneficial to both countries and discussed the war in Ukraine, urging all sides to seek peace and reduce differences.