As the world watches tariff brinkmanship unfold between the US and China, analysts have cast doubt on the truth of US President Donald Trump's claim in a magazine interview that China's President Xi Jinping called him.
Mr Trump told Time magazine that tariff talks were taking place between the US and China, an assertion he repeated to reporters as he was leaving the White House to attend the funeral of Pope Francis in Rome.
Beijing denied any talks were taking place.
"China and the US are NOT having any consultation or negotiation on #tariffs," China shot back in a statement posted by the Chinese Embassy in Washington.
"The US should stop creating confusion."
In response to Mr Trump's comments to Time, several China analysts told the ABC they did not think Mr Xi would have called his US counterpart.
King's College London business lecturer Xin Sun said it was "highly unlikely" Mr Xi called Mr Trump because to call him without invitation would imply Mr Xi would make concessions under pressure.
"For any political leader in China, this would have very serious consequences for their own political stability," Dr Sun said.
"It basically means that it signals weaknesses and vulnerability to possible political opponents."
Scott Kennedy, a senior adviser on Chinese business and economics at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in the US, agreed with that assessment.
"I don't think the two have communicated directly with each other since they spoke on January 17," said Dr Kennedy, referring to a Chinese Foreign Ministry statement that confirmed the pair spoke when Mr Trump was re-elected as US president.
"The US president recently has made several comments implying momentum in talks with China and others in order to reassure markets," he added.
"There may be low-level communications, but very unlikely to be ongoing negotiations."
'A preventative move'
China responded to Mr Trump's imposition of 145 per cent import taxes by placing 125 per cent tariffs on American goods.
While there is little clarity on what if any deals and negotiations are underway between the two countries, there have been some signs of some de-escalation in recent days after China quietly exempted some US goods from the import levies.
Mr Trump has also imposed a raft of tariffs on other countries, which have been scrambling to come to agreements with the US.
In the Time magazine interview, Mr Trump also said the US had made 200 tariff deals and expected to have them signed off in three or four weeks.
"We're meeting with China. We're doing fine with everybody. But ultimately, I've made all the deals," he said.
However, Dr Sun pointed out that not a single major trading partner had confirmed such deals had been signed.
"Given those unsubstantiated claims Trump and his administration has made over the past few weeks, I think there is a strong political incentive for the Trump administration to make the claim that China is in negotiation with the US," he said.
"Doing so would probably constitute a preventative move in case Trump would need to make further retreats regarding tariffs on China."
The Australian Strategic Policy Institute's Bethany Allen said Chinese authorities would be unlikely to deny a call took place between the two leaders if that was true.
"Trump is known for off-handed comments that may be somewhat less than precise," she said.
"Messaging on the Chinese side, however, is always extremely precise and controlled. I think it is possible that Trump may be referring to some kind of contact — perhaps substantive, perhaps not — between US and Chinese officials."
On Saturday, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Beijing stands on the side of international rules regarding US-imposed tariffs and opposes protectionism.
Mr Wang said Beijing would seek solidarity with other countries on the tariff situation and exposes "extreme egoism" and the bullying of certain countries, a veiled reference to the US.
ABC/wires
