BEIJING - Chinese President Xi Jinping told US President Donald Trump during a phone call on Nov 24 that Taiwan’s “return to China” is a key part of the post-war international order, state news agency Xinhua reported.

“China and the United States once fought side by side against fascism and militarism, and should now work together to safeguard the outcomes of World War II,” Mr Xi was quoted as saying by Xinhua.

A White House official confirmed Mr Trump and Mr Xi had spoken by phone but gave no details.

China regards Taiwan as part of its territory and has not ruled out the use of force to take control of it, though the island’s government rejects Beijing’s claim and says only Taiwan’s people can decide their future.

China is locked in its biggest diplomatic crisis in years with Japan, after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said in November a

could trigger a military response from Tokyo.

Mr Xi and Mr Trump met in South Korea on Oct 30 following months of trade tensions triggered by Mr Trump’s tariff policies.

China has since resumed purchases of US soya beans and halted its expanded curbs on rare earth exports, while the US has lowered tariffs on China by 10 per cent.

Mr Xi said that China-US ties have stabilised and improved since their meeting.

“The facts again show that cooperation benefits both sides while confrontation hurts both,” he told Mr Trump, urging the two countries to maintain positive momentum and expand cooperation.