A recent U.S.–China leader call underscores how Taiwan remains the central fault line in an otherwise transactional relationship between the U.S. and China. The article highlights how Beijing used the call to reinforce sovereignty claims over Taiwan, while Washington

balances economic cooperation with security commitments to the island. This dynamic reflects a fragile triangular relationship, where progress on trade coexists with escalating strategic mistrust. This increases the risk of miscalculation around Taiwan, as both sides signal their limits more clearly.