– The US and China issue mutual warnings about Taiwan
There were other atmospheric disturbances ahead of the video summit between Joe Biden and Xi Jinping. That doesn’t bode well for the conference at the beginning of the week.
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Conference with more than just background noise: Xi Jinping (left) and Joe Biden will not be short of topics to talk about.
Photo: Nicholas Kamm (AFP / Archive)
Before the eagerly anticipated video summit between US President Joe Biden and China’s President Xi Jinping, both sides issued warnings regarding the conflict with Taiwan. In an interview with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken “expressed his concern about the continuing military, diplomatic and economic pressure exerted by the People’s Republic of China on Taiwan,” the State Department said on Saturday (local time). Wang warned Washington against actions that could appear to support “Taiwan independence”.
Blinken and Wang spoke from Washington local time on Friday in preparation for the video summit on Monday, according to the US State Department. The US representative demanded that Beijing take part in a constructive dialogue in order to resolve the Taiwan question “peacefully and in a manner that is consistent with the wishes and interests of the people of Taiwan.”
Wang warned the US not to interfere in the conflict, according to a report published on Saturday in Beijing: “Any tolerance and support for the ‘Taiwanese independence movement’ undermines the peace in Formosa Street and would ultimately prove to be a boomerang,” emphasized he.
Biden and Xi will hold their virtual summit on Tuesday night, Swiss time. The video conference will be about a “responsible” handling of the “competition” between the two countries, said Biden spokeswoman Jen Psaki on Friday. At the same time, opportunities for cooperation on topics of mutual interest should be discussed.
Tensions increase
Tensions between the world’s two largest economies had recently increased significantly, particularly with regard to Taiwan. The government in Beijing sees the island as a breakaway province, which, if necessary, should be reunited with the mainland by military force. The United States recently protested behind the government in Taipei.
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There had also been arguments between Beijing and Washington over the past few years on trade issues, because of the human rights situation in China and how Hong Kong was dealt with. Biden sees the economically and militarily aspiring China as the greatest geopolitical challenge of the 21st century and wants to take a resolute stand against the government in Beijing. At the same time, he seeks cooperation on issues such as climate protection.
