US President Joe Biden held a meeting with Chinese Communist Party Chairman Xi Jinping for the first time during his presidency on Monday evening.
The leaders of the world’s two superpowers expressed their stance on Taiwan.
The White House said, “On Taiwan, President Biden underscored that the United States... strongly opposes unilateral efforts to change the status quo or undermine peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.” It also reiterated its support for the one China policy guided by the Taiwan Relations Act, Three Communiques and Six Assurances.
According to China’s state media, Xinhua Agency, Xi said some people in the US want to “use Taiwan to control China”. The agency said that this trend is “dangerous and like playing with fire, and those who play with fire will get burned.”
In regards to Taiwan, Xi said that China is patient and will do its best to achieve a peaceful reunification, but if Taiwan independence forces make provocative moves or cross “a red line”, China would take “decisive measures.”
The two leaders have met many times before when Biden was vice president, and Xi called Biden his “old friend.” Biden said it was their responsibility as leaders of China and the United States to set up some “common-sense guardrails” and ensure their competition does not "veer into conflict”.