WASHINGTON/BEIJING: US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a fifth call as leaders on Thursday, and Xi warned against “playing with fire” on Taiwan as the Chinese-claimed island by US House Speaker Concerns were raised over the possible visit of Nancy Pelosi. Chinese state media said Xi told Biden that the United States should adhere to the “one-China principle” and stressed that China strongly opposes Taiwan’s independence and interference from outside forces.
Beijing has issued a warning about the repercussions should Pelosi – Democrats like Biden – visit Taiwan, a move that would be a dramatic, though not unprecedented, display of US support for the island, which it says will help the Chinese military. and facing increasing economic threats.
“Those who play with fire will only burn,” Chinese state media quoted Xi as telling Biden. “(We) hope that the American side can see this clearly.”
The White House said the call lasted more than two hours. US officials said it would have a broader agenda, including discussion of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which has not yet been condemned by China.
Although at its core, US officials said they saw the exchange as another opportunity to manage competition between the world’s two largest economies, whose ties have increased tensions over democratically-ruled Taiwan, which Xi has vowed to reconnect with the mainland, if necessary, by force.
Washington does not have official ties with Taiwan and follows a “one-China policy” that recognizes Beijing, not Taipei, diplomatically. But it is obliged by US law to provide the island with the means to defend itself, with increasing pressure in Congress for more explicit support.
“It’s about keeping the lines of communication open with the President of China, which is one of our most important bilateral relations, not only in that region, but around the world,” a White House national security spokesman said. Touches a lot.” John Kirby told reporters before the call.
A person briefed on the call’s plan said the Biden administration thinks leader-to-leader engagement is the best way to ease tensions on Taiwan.
Some analysts believe that Xi’s interest is also in avoiding escalation as he seeks an unprecedented third term in Congress that would result in the collapse of China’s ruling Communist Party.
Biden also wanted to discuss issues of climate and economic competition, the person briefed said, as well as the idea of imposing a price cap on Russian oil to punish Moscow for its war in Ukraine, an issue Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said. had previously taken up with Chinese counterparts. july.
The Biden administration is debating whether to lift some tariffs on Chinese goods as a way to tame rising inflation, but US officials have said the decision was not expected before the call.
When Biden last spoke to Xi in March, he warned of “consequences” if Beijing gave Russia material support for the war, and the US government believed the red line could be crossed in months. has not been crossed.
Taiwan has complained of intensifying Chinese military maneuvers over the past two years to try and force it to accept Beijing’s sovereignty. Just ahead of Thursday’s call, Taiwan’s military said it had launched a drone flare to warn it could “see” on a strategically located and heavily fortified island close to the Chinese coast that could potentially He was investigating his defense.
toxic relationship
The White House has reiterated that its “one-China” policy has not changed despite speculation over Pelosi’s possible visit, which the speaker has yet to confirm.
The last time a US House speaker visited Taiwan was in 1997, and as a co-equal branch of government, the US executive has little control over Congress’s visit.
China has become more powerful militarily and economically since then, and some analysts worry that such travel at a time of poor relations could lead to a crisis on the 100-mile (160-km) wide Taiwan Waterway separating China and Taiwan. may be born.
Kirby said the administration is in contact with Pelosi’s office to make sure he has “all the context” to make a decision about his visit. China has offered some clues to specific reactions if Pelosi, especially a longtime critic of China on human rights issues, visits Taiwan.
(Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Zee News staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)