Trump to Visit China in April After ‘Very Good’ Call with Xi on Taiwan, Ukraine, Soybeans
Leaders look to lock in fragile truce as Taiwan, Ukraine and trade dominate discussion
President Donald Trump will travel to China in April after what he described as a “very good” phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday, a conversation that touched on Taiwan, Ukraine, fentanyl, soybeans and broader bilateral ties.
“We have done a good, and very important, deal for our Great Farmers — and it will only get better,” Trump added.
Of note: Observers caution that China is sitting on big soybean stocks and that margins for processing remain weak; thus, even if commitments exist, actual additional purchases may be delayed or reduced. On the tariff front: although Beijing announced removal of many retaliatory tariffs on U.S. agricultural goods, soybeans still faced a 13% tariff. Even if the soybean volume commitments are real, commercial market conditions matter: Chinese crushers may delay purchases if margins are poor, or if they already have large stocks. For example: vast stockpiles at port may limit Beijing’s appetite for further purchases. Pricing also matters: U.S. soybean shipments to China reportedly face higher premiums vs. rival South American supplies. For example: Chinese buyers paid U.S. soy premiums around $2.15-2.40 per bushel over January Chicago futures versus $1.25 for new-crop Brazilian soybeans. The original negotiations are heavy on commitments, not detailed enforcement mechanisms. Some analysts view the numbers more as a return to “business as usual” rather than a substantially expanded U.S. export boom.
The planned visit marks the latest step in an uneasy rapprochement following their October summit in Busan, where both sides agreed to a one-year truce on tariffs and export controls.
Trump said on social media that U.S./China relations are “extremely strong” and added that he will host Xi for a reciprocal state visit in the United States in 2026. According to a Chinese embassy account of the call, Trump also told Xi he is a “great leader” and stressed that Washington “understands how important the Taiwan question is to China.”
Beijing seeks to preserve momentum. The Chinese embassy said relations have “generally” moved in a steady, positive direction since the Busan meeting. Xi urged both sides to “maintain this momentum” and expand cooperation, while narrowing areas of friction.
Beijing has made clear that Taiwan remains its most sensitive red line. During the call, Xi restated that Taiwan’s return is “an integral part of the post-war international order,” and emphasized China’s support for peace efforts in Ukraine aimed at producing a “fair, lasting and binding agreement.”
The call comes amid Beijing’s escalating dispute with Japan over Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s recent remarks on Taiwan, which Beijing condemned sharply. China has issued travel warnings, blocked seafood imports, and delayed cultural exchanges with Tokyo, even shelving a proposed trilateral culture ministers’ meeting with South Korea and Japan.
Washington watches Japan row carefully. Analysts say Beijing may be using the outreach to Trump to assess his stance on Taiwan — and on Japan — after a tense few weeks in Northeast Asia. Jeremy Chan of Eurasia Group said Beijing appears to be “feeling out Trump on the Japan/Taiwan issue,” noting that their Busan meeting centered on economic matters rather than security. Chan added that China wants to keep Trump “on the sidelines” as it pressures Tokyo, and sees benefit in isolating Japan diplomatically.
For Washington, the moment carries uncertainty. Trump’s position on Taiwan has often appeared less predictable than that of previous presidents. His transactional style and comments urging allies to shoulder more of their own defense burdens have raised questions about how firmly he would back Taipei in a crisis. Unlike former President Joe Biden — who publicly said the U.S. would defend Taiwan — Trump has not made such explicit commitments.
A truce still in testing phase. Despite these geopolitical tensions, Beijing appears intent on keeping intact the limited truce reached in October. That agreement paused tariff escalation, eased export-control disputes and helped stabilize relations after years of volatility.
For China, analysts say, the priority now is ensuring Trump does not insert himself into the China/Japan/Taiwan dispute in ways that could disrupt hard-won progress. “Japan must be feeling a bit unnerved,” Chan said, noting no evidence of recent communication between Trump and Takaichi.
As the April visit approaches, both sides are signaling a desire to steady the world’s most consequential relationship—even as events in Taiwan, Japan and Ukraine continue to test how durable that calm can be.
