The Chinese administration issued an emphatic statement on Monday, directly contradicting what President Trump asserted regarding communication with President Xi Jinping.
Officials in Beijing firmly denied any recent phone call between the two leaders, thereby dismissing speculation about potential private discussions aimed at resolving the ongoing trade conflict.
Beijing Rejects Claim of Secret Negotiations
This official clarification occurred during a standard press briefing, directly confronting Trump‘s narrative shared in a Time magazine interview the preceding week.
In that interview, Trump implied President Xi had initiated a call.
China‘s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated plainly that no telephone conversations, negotiation sessions, or informal arrangements have taken place to address the tariff impasse affecting the globe’s two foremost economic powers.
Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun conveyed to the press, “Based on my information, no phone conversation has recently transpired between the heads of state.”
He reinforced this position, stating, “I wish to emphasize again, concerning the tariff situation, that China and the United States are not engaged in consultations or negotiations. Such claims are false.”
This represented a clear and stark rejection of the narrative presented by President Trump.
Trump’s Persistence Despite Lack of Corroboration
Even when faced with Beijing’s resolute denial, President Trump maintained his assertion.
During the Time interview, while suggesting a potential reduction in his administration’s substantial tariffs and portraying a willingness to negotiate favorably should Xi engage, Trump claimed, “He’s called. And I don’t think that’s a sign of weakness on his behalf.”
Yet, he provided no specifics regarding the supposed discussion’s content, timing, or why it lacked official acknowledgment.
When later pressed for details by CNN correspondent Alayna Treene upon leaving the White House on Friday, Trump evaded direct confirmation, replying, “I don’t want to comment on that, but I’ve spoken to him many times.”
This vague response offered no substantiation.
According to publicly accessible records, the last confirmed telephone discussion between the two presidents was on January 17, several months prior, preceding Trump’s second inauguration.
China had also proactively warned against misleading public perception regarding trade talks shortly before the Time interview surfaced.
Trade Environment and Contradictory Signals
The context for this diplomatic friction remains the ongoing trade dispute.
Since taking office for his second term, Trump imposed significant levies, up to 145%, on Chinese imports, excluding certain electronics, characterizing them inaccurately as “reciprocal.”
China responded with its own tariffs reaching 125% on US products.
Concurrently, subtle adjustments were observed, such as China lowering duties on select American semiconductors, interpreted by import agencies as a move possibly intended to ease pressure on its domestic tech sector while maintaining leverage against the US.
US Treasury Secretary Expresses Uncertainty
Adding to the confusion, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, appearing on ABC’s “This Week,” could not verify President Trump’s account.
When questioned by host Martha Raddatz about a recent Trump-Xi call, Bessent admitted, “I don’t know if President Trump has spoken with President Xi.”
Instead of providing confirmation, Bessent redirected the conversation toward general trade discussions with multiple countries and acknowledged the unsustainability of the current high tariff levels.
His only related comment affirmed a positive relationship and mutual respect between the two presidents.
Diverging Narratives Highlight Impasse
As a result, there is a clear difference between President Trump’s description of friendly talks started by Beijing and the clear denials from the Chinese government, which is made worse by the absence of support from his own team.
The prevailing evidence indicates a continued lack of direct high-level dialogue and no imminent resolution to the protracted tariff conflict between the two nations.
Also Read: Trump Imposes Staggering 125% Tariff on Chinese Goods
