Ashish Valentine

According to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV, Xi Jinping told Trump the Taiwan issue could bring the US and China into conflict if it's mishandled.

China claims the self-ruled island as its own territory and has not ruled out the use of force to take it.

Responding to public concerns Trump may strike a deal with Xi to lower U.S.

support for Taiwan, the leader of Taiwan's ruling party legislative caucus, Zhuang Juixiong, said it's better that the two large elephants, the U.S.

and China, sit down and talk rather than fight.

He emphasized support for Taiwan in the U.S.

is bipartisan, and based on laws like the Taiwan Relations Act, which compels the U.S.

to help Taiwan defend itself.

For NPR News, I'm Ashish Valentine in Taipei.

Only 12 countries have formal diplomatic relationships with Taiwan, and China's been ramping up pressure on them to distance themselves from the self-ruled island.

President Lai Ching-de was due to visit Eswatini a week ago to celebrate the 40th anniversary of King Mswati III's accession to the throne.

But on the eve of his departure, the presidential office announced the trip was put on hold because three East African countries, under pressure from China, denied President Lai's plane permission to pass through their airspace.

Shortly after he stepped off the plane, President Lai told reporters the friendship between Taiwan and Eswatini would not be shaken by China's efforts.

For NPR News, I'm Ashish Valentine in Taipei.

I hope that's not what you're wearing to the dinner.

Opposition leader Zhang Liwen's visit marked the first meeting between a sitting head of the Kuomintang or KMT party and Xi Jinping in almost 10 years.

The two leaders affirmed their support for warmer ties between Taipei and Beijing.

But in a statement, Taiwan's President Lai Ching-de wrote that, History tells us that compromising with authoritarian powers only sacrifices sovereignty and democracy.

It does not bring freedom, nor does it bring peace.

Lai urged the opposition to pass his request for $40 billion in additional defense spending to better prepare Taiwan for the threat of a potential Chinese invasion.