The talks between America’s Joe Biden and China’s Xi Jinping take place at a time of strained relations between the two countries.
The two leaders discussed a range of issues, including the continued complicated bilateral relationship and global relations, as well as issues of climate change and health security, Reuters reports.
The focus was on the tensions between the two countries over Taiwan, an island that is self-governing but which China sees as its territory. The latest development was about House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s planned trip to Taiwan,
Beijing has said it would consider such a trip a provocation.
Has not changed its policy
During the conversation, Joe Biden underlined that US policy towards Taiwan has not changed and that Washington remains strongly opposed to China’s unilateral attempt to change the status quo between the country and Taiwan and “undermine peace and stability around the Taiwan Strait”, Reuters reports with reference to the White House .
But Xi Jinping is said to have warned Biden about interference in the Taiwan issue:
– Those who play with fire will eventually burn themselves. I hope that the US side is fully aware of that, Xi Jinping is said to have told Biden, according to the state news agency New China.
Communication a priority
The news agency adds that both presidents, despite clear frictions, found the talks to be sincere and in-depth. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby also said Wednesday that it is important for Xi and Biden to be heard regularly:
“The president wants to make sure that communication with President Xi continues to be open, because it is necessary,” Kirby said at a press briefing at the White House.
– There are issues where we can cooperate with China and there are issues where there is, of course, friction and tension.
The two leaders last spoke to each other in March, shortly after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Tension also in several areas
Kirby mentioned a number of areas of friction between the US and China that would be addressed during the call. In addition to the tensions surrounding “China’s aggressive behavior in the Indo-Pacific region outside Taiwan”, Biden and Xi are said to have also talked about “tensions in the economic relationship” and China’s reaction to Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Biden and Xi agree to meet “face to face”
Biden and Xi are also said to have agreed in the conversation to meet “face to face”. This is stated by an anonymous American official, according to Reuters and AFP.
However, the information has not been confirmed by the countries’ foreign ministries.