In a distance summit of China and US, the presidents of both countries have warned each other from decisive actions as to Taiwan. The democratic island separated from China by the Taiwan Strait and is supported by the US and feels threatened by China’s military.
British news portal The Guardian reports quoting Chinese state media that in the Monday, November 15, meeting Xi Jinping warned Joe Biden in a virtual summit that China was prepared to take «decisive measures» if Taiwan makes any moves towards independence that cross Beijing’s red lines.
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In response, Biden said the US remained committed to the «one China policy» that recognises only one sovereign Chinese state, and that Washington «strongly opposes unilateral efforts to change the status quo or undermine peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait». The phrase was a reminder to the Taiwanese not to declare independence but also to China not to contemplate invasion. Biden told Xi that both countries had a responsibility to ensure the rivalry between their two nations did not «veer into open conflict»
There is increased apprehension of a confrontation over the fate of Taiwan, and over freedom of navigation in the South China Sea. The meeting also comes against a backdrop of global outrage over China’s treatment of its Uyghur Muslim population and Hong Kong, and a proliferation of cyber-attacks the US has blamed on China, The Guardian reports.
US-China summit focuses on keeping status quo as to Taiwan
