'Negative factors': Xi-Trump phone call touches on thorny issues

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A wide range of topics were covered in a recent phone call between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart, Donald Trump.

Issues such as the DPRK's ongoing nuclear program and the US' naval presence in the South China Sea were discussed.

Spokesman for the Foreign Ministry Geng Shuang said, "President Xi explicitly pointed out that progress has been made in China-US relations in recent days, but ties have also been affected by some negative factors."

Spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry Geng Shuang‍ during a press briefing. /VCG Photo.

During the call, Xi voiced opposition to a 1.4 billion US dollar arms deal with Taiwan.

After the deal was announced, spokesman Lu Kang, also from the Foreign Ministry, said "We urge the US to uphold their commitment to the One China principle and stop arms sales to Taiwan."

Spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry Lu Kang during a press briefing. /VCG Photo.

In response, the US said that the deal did not represent a threat to the One China principle.

"There is no change, I should point out, to our long-standing One China policy which is based on three joint communiqués on the Taiwan Relations Act,” US State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said.

China recently voiced its opposition to a US naval destroyer entering the South China Sea and US sanctions on Chinese entities with alleged links to the DPRK, but despite these challenged Xi said the focus should be on getting relations back on track.

"President Xi also pointed out that the two sides should stay committed to the general direction of China-US relations and focus on cooperation,” Geng Shuang said.