US President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping discussed Taiwan while meeting for the first time in-person since Biden took office in 2021.
US President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping met in-person on Monday for the first time since Biden entered office. The meeting happened before the opening of the G20 summit in Indonesia.
In addition to topics like climate change and security tensions, Taiwan was central to the two leaders’ discussions.
Xi stressed that the so-called Taiwan question was at the center of China’s core interests. He told Biden agreements between the United States and China on Taiwan were the bedrock of the two countries’ relationship and the first red line that must not be crossed.
Biden said his administration is committed to managing competition with Beijing to avoid conflict. But Biden also raised objections to China’s coercive and increasingly aggressive behavior towards Taiwan, which he said threatened peace in the Taiwan Strait.
Biden has said on multiple occasions that the United States would intervene militarily if China invaded Taiwan. But he also reiterated his country’s commitment to the status quo in the strait.
"Our One China policy has not changed, has not changed. We oppose unilateral changes in the status quo by either side, and we're committed to maintaining the peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits."
The two leaders say meeting face to face is essential. These kinds of dialogues could also help lower the temperature in the Taiwan Strait.