Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized to U.S. President Joe Biden that Taiwan is the most significant and dangerous issue in U.S.-China bilateral relations. Xi expressed a preference for peaceful “reunification” but did not rule out the use of force under certain conditions. Biden assured maintenance of regional peace and stability. The meeting highlighted ongoing tensions over Taiwan’s status and future, amidst increased Chinese military activities and firm stance by Taiwan on its self-governance
by Janice McAllister
During a significant four-hour meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Joe Biden, the focus turned sharply to the issue of Taiwan. Xi Jinping explicitly stated to President Biden that the Taiwan issue stands as the most significant and dangerous concern in the bilateral relationship between the United States and China. The senior U.S. official present at the meeting reported that Xi Jinping articulated China’s preference for a peaceful “reunification” with Taiwan, a territory China claims as its own. However, he also laid out conditions under which force could be used, indicating a dual approach of peaceful intentions and potential military action.
Xi aimed to clarify that China is not preparing for a large-scale invasion of Taiwan, yet this statement does not alter the U.S. stance on the matter. In response, President Biden reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to maintaining peace and stability in the region, a long-standing position of the U.S. government.
Xi Jinping’s remarks on the necessity of moving towards resolution indicate China’s continuing strategy of combining promises of peaceful reunification with threats of force. In recent times, China has conducted large-scale military exercises around Taiwan, intensifying the island’s defense strategies and calls for international support. The Taiwan government, led by the Taipei administration, has emphasized its focus on defense enhancements and garnering global backing to counter any potential Chinese aggression. It maintains a stance of neither provoking China nor succumbing to pressure, advocating for the island’s people to determine their own future.
The Biden-Xi meeting, their first in a year, aimed to ease tensions between the two superpowers, addressing issues beyond Taiwan, including military conflicts, drug trafficking, and artificial intelligence. This meeting underscores the complex and delicate nature of U.S.-China relations, with Taiwan remaining a pivotal and contentious point.
(Associated Medias | FAD) – All rights reserved.