Beijing: China declared that Taiwan remains central to its core interests, just ahead of US President Donald Trump's planned visit to the Chinese capital later this month. "Taiwan question is at the core of China's core interests and the foundation of the political foundation of China-US relations," stated Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian during a regular news conference in Beijing, as reported by the state-run Global Times.

According to Anadolu Agency, Trump is set to visit China on May 14-15, where he is expected to engage in a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Lin emphasized the importance of the US adhering to the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiques, along with honoring commitments made by successive US administrations on the Taiwan issue. He described these as international obligations that the US must fulfill.

Washington continues to be Taipei's top arms supplier, with the Trump administration approving a record $11 billion in arms sales last year. This action led to protests from Beijing, which also imposed sanctions on several US arms firms and their personnel. Last month, Taiwan received the final shipment of its 108-tank fleet, valued at approximately $1.28 billion, purchased from the US.

The spokesman mentioned that China and the US are maintaining communication regarding Trump's upcoming visit. This statement was in response to a Wall Street Journal report suggesting that both nations are considering launching official talks on artificial intelligence during the potential summit.