Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with US senators [Photo courtesy of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs]

China has extended an unusual, high-level reception to Republican senators, close associates of then-US President Donald Trump, who are visiting ahead of an anticipated summit between the two countries next week.

While sending a message of stabilizing US-China relations, Beijing has once again highlighted the Taiwan issue as a core concern.

According to the People's Daily, the official newspaper of the Communist Party of China, Li Qiang, the second-ranked official and head of economic affairs; Zhao Leji, the third-ranked official and chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress; and Wang Yi, the top diplomat and director of the Office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission (also serving as Foreign Minister), met with a delegation of US senators led by Republican Senator Steve Daines of Montana, the day before.

The Chinese leadership reiterated to Senator Daines and his delegation that the Taiwan issue is a "red line that cannot be crossed," while also emphasizing the necessity of stabilizing and cooperating on US-China relations.

Senator Daines is considered a prominent pro-Trump figure within the Republican Party and led a bipartisan delegation, including Democratic senators, on this visit to China.

He is also known to have played an informal mediating role during the US-China trade war under the Trump administration.

The consecutive meetings of China's top leadership with Senator Daines are interpreted as an attempt to foster a friendly atmosphere ahead of the summit between President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping next week.

While China has not officially confirmed President Trump's visit schedule, the US has stated that President Trump is scheduled to visit China on November 14-15 for a summit with President Xi Jinping.

In his meeting with Senator Daines, Premier Li Qiang said, "China and the United States should expand dialogue rather than confrontation, and mutually beneficial cooperation rather than zero-sum competition, and maintain stable and predictable economic and trade relations." He added, "This is in the fundamental interests of both countries."

He then stressed, "The Taiwan issue is a matter of core Chinese interests and the first red line in China-US relations that cannot be crossed."

Chairman Zhao Leji also stated, "The Taiwan issue is the core of China's core interests and the most important and sensitive issue in China-US relations. We hope that the United States will adhere to the One-China principle and handle the Taiwan issue prudently."

Director Wang Yi also emphasized that the US should respect China's core interests and properly manage differences, while also expressing a desire for stable relations by stating that the two countries should be viewed as partners, not competitors.

Earlier, Shanghai Mayor Gong Zheng also met with Senator Daines and his delegation in Shanghai on November 5, expressing a willingness to expand economic and trade cooperation with the United States.

While emphasizing the need to stabilize bilateral relations, China has reiterated the Taiwan issue as a core concern ahead of the summit.

Chinese experts analyze that Senator Daines is effectively serving as an informal communication channel between President Trump and the Chinese leadership.

Shen Dingli, former vice president of Fudan University's Institute of International Studies, commented, "Senator Daines is very close to President Trump and his perception of China is similar to Trump's." He added, "While it may not be that Senator Daines came to China with a special mission from President Trump, he would not have opposed his visit to China."

Li Liangfu, a senior fellow at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore, analyzed, "Although China has emphasized the Taiwan issue, there is a low possibility of President Trump making significant changes to his Taiwan policy." He added, "For President Trump, securing economic achievements, such as large-scale purchase agreements, will be a more important goal."