Biden Reportedly Tells Xi Jinping US Doesn't Support 'Taiwan's Independence'

On Monday, a virtual summit between Chinese leader Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden took place, with the two leaders exchanging views on bilateral relations and issues of common interest. The online meeting was held amid rising tensions between Washington and Beijing.

US President Joe Biden said at the virtual meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping that the US adheres to the ‘one China’ policy and does not support "Taiwan’s independence", China Central Television (CCTV) reported following the bilateral summit.

"The US government will consistently and long-term adhere to the 'one China' policy, [the US] does not support 'Taiwan's independence' and hopes to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait region," the TV channel quoted Biden as saying.

Joe Biden noted during the meeting that the US neither aims to change China’s system nor enter a conflict with Beijing, according to CCTV.

While commenting on the outcome of the summit, a senior White House official argued that President Joe Biden was reaffirming the "very longstanding approach" of the US towards Taiwan.

"There is something that the US has reiterated at various points over time, what our officials have reiterated publicly earlier this year", that there is nothing particularly new or different about the US policy, the official said.

According to the White House readout of Biden’s virtual meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, “President Biden underscored that the United States remains committed to the 'one China' policy, guided by the Taiwan Relations Act, the three Joint Communiques, and the Six Assurances, and that the United States strongly opposes unilateral efforts to change the status quo or undermine peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.”

Chinese President Xi Jinping, in his turn, warned Joe Biden during the online meeting that China is ready to take decisive actions if separatist forces in Taiwan cross "the red line", Xinhua reported.

"We are patient and willing to do our utmost to strive for the prospect of peaceful reunification with the utmost sincerity," Xi Jinping said, as quoted by the China Central Television (CCTV), warning that if "Taiwan independence" forces provoke the issue, or even cross the red line, the mainland will have to take decisive measures.

The Сhinese leader said that he hopes the US president will show political leadership and bring Washington’s China policy towards a "rational" track.

Xi also told Biden during the online meeting that the interests of the two countries are deeply interconnected, and cooperation will be beneficial to both, according to Xinhua.

On Saturday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke by telephone with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. During the conversation, the minister emphasised that any support for the forces advocating "Taiwan independence" undermines regional peace and security.

The Taiwan issue has contributed to exacerbation of relations between China and the US. Washington continues to sell weapons to the island, and maintain official and military contacts with Taipei. Beijing calls on the US to stop such "provocations".

Taiwan has been governed independently from mainland China since 1949. Beijing views the island as its province, while Taiwan — a territory with its own democratically-elected government — maintains that it is an autonomous country but stops short of declaring independence.

China and the US believe that the meeting was pragmatic, meaningful, frank and fruitful, and countries agreed to continue contacts, Xinhua reported.

A senior administration official said on Tuesday that the United States didn't expect the virtual summit between presidents Joe Biden and Xi Jinping to be a fundamental departure point or breakthrough in relations with China, adding that the meeting was mostly about developing the conversation responsibly.

The official noted at the same time that the summit was open and respectful and lasted longer than expected.

The first part of the virtual meeting began at 8:46am Beijing time and ended at 10:42am, when a break was announced. Negotiations resumed at 11:06am Beijing time and finally ended at 12:24pm.

The meeting between Xi Jinping and Joe Biden took place against the backdrop of the continuing aggravation of relations between Beijing and Washington regarding a whole range of issues.

Relations between China and the United States deteriorated sharply during the presidency of Donald Trump, when the United States initiated a trade war, began to exert undue pressure on Chinese technology companies including Huawei and ZTE, and then declared sanctions over alleged human rights violations in Tibet and Xinjiang and mainland China's increased control over Hong Kong, including the adoption of the National Security Act. The US has also continued to accuse China of failing to contain the spread of the coronavirus, and has kept tensions high by engaging in regular contact with Taiwan.

Beijing has voiced its objection to all of Washington's aforementioned actions, has denied all accusations, and has urged the US to join it in restoring productive relations between the two countries.